Missile Thunder not at top yet warns Chillemi

By Glenn Davis

Tolga trainer Roy Chillemi has warned star North Queensland sprinter Missile Thunder won’t be at his top when he makes his comeback after a long injury lay-off at Townsville on Tuesday.

Missile Thunder will attempt to maintain his unbeaten record in six starts in the Benchmark 70 Handicap over 1000 metres.

Missile Thunder is part-owned by Cairns Jockey Club chairman Tom Hedley, who has been a long-time client of Chillemi, and is the biggest owner in the state’s north.

“I started training about 40 years ago and Tom has raced horses with me for 35 of them,” Chillemi said.

The son of Smart Missile underwent knee surgery to remove bone chips following his last start win in the QTIS 2YO Classic in Townsville in June last year.

“He’s been in work for a good three months but he’s nowhere near his top,” Chillemi said.

“I had to give him plenty of time off to recover from his knee operation and he hasn’t had any barrier trials.

“I didn’t want to bring him back too soon and there’s plenty of improvement to come from him.

“He has to start him off somewhere and I don’t expect him to win first-up as it’s a hard race and 1000 metres is too short for him.”

Chillemi is taking it race-by-race with Missile Thunder before deciding if he’ll progress to the main North Queensland feature sprints including the Cleveland Bay Handicap at Cluden Park.

“I want to see how he pulls up after this race on Tuesday and if he goes well, I’d like to run him in a Class 6 Plate next start,” he said.

“I’ll then see what’s available for him and see how he’s going at the time before looking at any carnival races.”

In contrast, Chillemi hopes to target the Cairns Newmarket and Cairns Amateur Sprint with Palencia who clashes with stable mates Tennessee Boy and Mystery ‘N’ Magic in the Open Handicap over 1400 metres.

Palencia is coming off a last start fifth to rising star Smart Image in a 1300 metre Open event at Townsville on May 19.

“His last run was very good considering he got a bad check but he wouldn’t have beaten the winner,” Chillemi said.

“On paper, he looks to be the best of my three and if he runs well, I’d like to aim him for the Cairns Newmarket and Cairns Amateur Sprint during the carnival.

“I’ll just see he goes this run and program him as we go along.”