Hatch faces dilemma after Townsville Lightning

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Lindsay Hatch could be left with a Cleveland Bay Handicap dilemma if talented sprinter Circularity claims the Lightning Handicap at Townsville’s Cluden Park on Sunday.

Circularity – an Adrian Layt mount – is chasing a hat-trick of wins and will be joined in the 1000 metre feature by stable mate Gamboa.

Six-year-old Circularity was originally trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace in Sydney but did not win in four starts before switching to the Richard and Will Freedman stable.

After three wins for the Sydney father-and-son combination, Circularity was bought for $28,000 by an owner of Hatch's. 

The son of Time For War won a 1200 metre Class 6 event at Townsville in the middle of June before a last start all-the-way win in a 1300 metre Class 6 Plate at Mackay on July 1.

“Circularity is flying and has started four times for me and won his past two,” Hatch said.

“He was supposed to start at Townsville last week but he was scratched at the barriers when he kicked out and got his leg over the gate.

“He passed a barrier trial test in Townsville on Monday and he’s ready to go again.”

Hatch will see how Circularity performs in the Lightning before making the call whether he backs-up in the $150,000 Cleveland Bay Handicap at Townsville on Saturday week.

“If he wins or runs well, he’ll need to pull up well to have a go at the Cleveland Bay,” Hatch said.

“The Cleveland Bay looks like it’s going to be a very hot field this year so I’m inclined to looks at the Cairns Lightning next with him.

“It’s the biggest day of the year on Cleveland Bay day and that’s probably the only reason he might go for it.”

Hatch has never won the Lightning Handicap but will be looking for back-to-back wins in the Townsville Guineas with Baby Guinness.

Baby Guinness has done all his racing in North Queensland and is coming off a last start fifth to stable mate Breakwater Baby in a 1300 metre three-year-old race at Cluden Park on July 21.

“She’s crying out for 1600 metres and will race very well,” Hatch said.

“Her last run was very good and she finished off the race better than any other runner.”

The Toowoomba-based Hatch was born in Blackall but grew up in Ayr in North Queensland and has been a regular to the central and northern winter carnivals in recent years.

He won last year’s Townsville Guineas with No Going Back who also claimed the Rockhampton Guineas.