By Glenn Davis
Rockhampton stayer Namazu claimed North Queensland’s jewel in the crown with back-to-back victories in the Townsville Cup at Cluden Park on Saturday.
The Ricky Vale-trained six-year-old overcame a car park barrier draw and top weight of 61kgs to dominate the 2000 metre feature with a six length over American Saint.
Ridden by jockey Ryan Wiggins, Namazu gave the popular Brisbane rider his first Townsville Cup win.
Wiggins was always confident of victory and thought he had the race won on the home turn.
“He travelled well and relaxed nicely and coming to the turn I thought he was going to win,” Wiggins said.
“I won the Cleveland Bay last year on Wren’s Day but this was my first Townsville Cup and I’ve now won a Mackay and Rockhampton Cup, as well.”
Namazu won last year’s Townsville Cup for former Brisbane apprentice Alex Patis and went on to win the 2100 metre Cairns Cup at his next start, a feat he will attempt to replicate again.
The son of Medaglia D'oro was then placed in the Cairns Amateur Cup before being sent to Brisbane for a brief five-start campaign under the training partnership Steven O'Dea and Matthew Hoysted.
Namazu won the H.L. Black Memorial over 1800 metres at his first start back in Vale’s care for this year’s northern winter carnival and went into the Townsville Cup off a close second in the Mackay Cup.
Namazu is one of the biggest horses trained in Rockhampton and is owned by Rav and Saiar Cheimardinov, Peter Radford and Ravi Ramswarup.
He was originally trained by Godolphin’s James Cummings in Sydney before being sent north after winning one of his first 10 starts.