North West newcomer ends long win drought

By Jordan Gerrans

After almost 40 career attempts to break through, noted leader Fields Of Red has finally found his suitable racing surface – the sand of North West Queensland.

The son of Deep Field had 37 tries south of the border earlier in his career and despite his lack of victories, connections persisted with the enigmatic galloper.

The soon-to-be seven-year-old was put up for sale online earlier this year and was snapped up Roma’s Tracey Baker, with the horse going to Justin Bawden in Mount Isa.

He only needed one race look on the sand to end his 37 run winning drought, scoring by three lengths in dominant fashion at Mount Isa’s TAB meeting on Monday afternoon.

The victory was the first leg of a winning double for Bawden, who last month qualified a runner for the Battle of the Bush Final in the city.

While there was adulation in ‘The Isa’ for the sand-loving galloper, there were a few smiles in Tamworth as well from his former stable.

Troy O'Neile had Fields Of Red from his days as a yearling until he finished last of seven at Deepwater Jockey Club on the non-TAB circuit in the first month of 2023.

“I was really happy for those guys to see him win up there,” O'Neile said of his new trainer and connections.

“There has not been many horses that have gone on to win from my stable that I have sold over the years.

“I am really happy they could win and recoup some money with him, it was exciting for me to watch it. He was always one of our family favourites.”

Jockey James Baker – Tracey’s son - rode Fields Of Red to victory on Monday, leading all the way from gate seven over 1200 metres.

Baker did some riding around the Tamworth area earlier in his career and played a key role in the long-time maidener finding his way to the North West.

“James thought the times he was running at the tracks he was at, then he would be ok up there but he wanted to know if he would handle the dirt,” O'Neile recalls.

“One thing about him is that he will lead and he will lead by a long way and that is the only way he ever races. If he is going to suit anywhere then it is Mount Isa.”

Baker took just the two rides on Monday – both for Bawden – and quickly contacted O'Neile as soon as he departed the jockeys room to discuss the breakthrough result.

Fields Of Red ran in the money on nine occasions from 37 attempts before Monday.

That kind of strike rate might lead to retirement for many gallopers.

But, there was some feeling that the chestnut gelding might be able to finally snatch a triumph at some stage.

The back end of 2020 was Fields of Red’s previous career-best period, finishing in the top three four times across five starts.

“He ran a heap of seconds and thirds, we had a stable joke there for a while and we did not think he would ever win a race,” O'Neile said.

“He was just real matey with other horses and whatever happened, he just wouldn’t win.

“He would be two or three lengths in front and he would slow up and wait for them to come to him in the straight and go to the line with whatever was there.

“We tried blinkers on and off, visors and winkers – he would just ease up.

“He had the ability to win three or four in a row but he just waited for other horses.”

Bawden also broke new ground with gelding Devil on Monday, who won for the first time over 1200 metres in his career.

Devil’s previous two victories were over 1000 and 1100 metres and he had attempted to win at 1200 metres on eight separate occasions.

Like his new stable mate Fields Of Red, Devil led all the way on Monday for hoop Matthew Gray. 

“I was a bit surprised, he usually runs a good 1000 metres on the track, but he kept going,” Bawden said.

“It was very nice to see. Matty rode him real good, he had a breather at the about 600 metre mark before the home turn. We are very happy with that.”