Bailey after maiden Belle Of The Daintree

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Alwyn Bailey doesn’t have a ticket in the Cairns Newmarket raffle but is hopeful of picking up a consolation victory in the Belle Of The Daintree at Cannon Park on Saturday.

Bailey will saddle up a two-pronged attack with veteran mares Red Light Roxanne and Female Officer in the 1500 metre feature.

Red Light Roxanne – a Carl Spry mount - is backing up a week after finishing eighth to Rockhampton’s O’mudgee in the Cape Cleveland Open Handicap over 1300 metres in Townsville.

Female Officer will be ridden by Lacey Morrison and has been placed at her past two starts including her latest effort when third in a Benchmark race over 1200 metres at Atherton on July 22.

The 66-year-old Bailey has been training since 1976 but has never had a starter in the Belle Of The Daintree or the Cairns Newmarket.

“I can’t recall ever having a starter in a Newmarket here since I came from Mount Isa to Cairns in 1980,” Bailey said.

“I’ve won a Cairns Cup but not a Newmarket but hopefully the Belle Of The Daintree will be a nice consolation.

“I’ve got two in it this year, so I can fire the shotgun twice.”

The former Mount Isa mines worker keeps a team of around a dozen horses in work most times of the year.

He rates Red Light Roxanne as the pick of his pair and named top weight Miss Seattle, from the Georgie Holt stable, as the main danger.

“I like Red Light Roxanne even though she’s got a lot of weight and has a wide barrier,” Bailey said.

“She was second last in a big field on the home turn at Townsville last start and had to come from a bad gate and was only beaten four lengths.

“The other mare, Female Officer, is a nine-year-old now and I don’t think she’s a real 1500 metre horse.”

All of Female Officer ‘s 10 wins have been for Bailey while Red Light Roxanne has only started five times for him for a win and two placings since being moved on from the Natalie McCall stable at Caloundra.

“She had a couple of years off during her career when she injured herself but she’s going good now,” he said.

“Her last run at Atherton was very good when she came from last on the corner and found the line strongly to finish third.”

Miss Seattle returned to her best form last start with a decisive win in a similar Benchmark 70 race over 1400 metres on her home track in Townsville on August 6.