Size not a worry for Innisfail trainer Renee Schluenz

By Jordan Gerrans

When Innisfail trainer Renee Schluenz inquired about an unraced mare for sale online that was nearing her fifth birthday, she did so full of confidence.

For a mare yet to face the starter on race day or even have an official trial yet at that stage, big questions usually need to be asked.

So, Schluenz contacted the stable of Terry Kelly in Victoria who had the mare on their books and was told simply – she is small.

“Is that all?” the smiling Cassowary Coast-based trainer replied.

“That is no worries then.”

The diminutive size of the mare was never going to be an issue for Schluenz as she raced a more than handy galloper named Little Stryker up until late 2020.

The for sale mare was a daughter of broodmare Messalina – who was also Little Stryker’s mother – and Schluenz quickly snapped her up.

The mare races under the name Little Red Pepper and after an indifferent start to her racing career, she has risen through the grades quickly and gets her chance in a feature race this Sunday.

The three-time career winner heads to the Belle Of The Burdekin Benchmark 70 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400 metres on Sunday at Cluden Park. 

“She is small but she has an attitude and is a sassy little thing,” Schluenz said.

“She is a real red head.”

Now retired as a 10-year-old, Little Red Pepper’s older sister Little Stryker was the 'winningest' horse the hobby trainer from Innisfail has ever had in her barn.

Schluenz juggles her small team of gallopers with working at the local high school in the area.

Little Stryker’s seven victories from 36 attempts – with 10 other minor placings – will always hold a special place in her heart and mind.

“She could have won a few more but she got knocked down a bit because she was small,” she said.

“They can be unlucky those little ones.”

Little Red Pepper will start as one of the outsiders in the market in the classy field for the 2023 edition of the Belle Of The Burdekin on Sunday afternoon.

But, she won at the track in a similar distance range three starts back.

Little Red Pepper has drawn wide with apprentice Rebecca Wilson in the saddle, which should help with her racing pattern, Schluenz believes.

“She goes good if everything goes right for her,” the trainer said.

“She is consistent but she needs to be ridden a certain way and if it does not pan out then it does not seem to work.

“She is up in grade on Sunday but I think she will go all right. She just needs to be ridden quietly and out of trouble and let her have a crack at them at the end.

“When she is right, she can motor at the end.”

With the Townsville Cup and Cleveland Bay Handicap next Saturday, Cluden Park is set to host their annual Lightning Handicap, Magic Millions Townsville Guineas and the Belle of the Burdekin this Sunday.

The Innisfail stable of Schluenz will be represented in two of the features, with Forgiato entered for the Lightning Handicap.

Isabella Teh will take the ride.

Like his stable mate, Forgiato is a recent Cluden Park winner – scoring at the track in the middle of May – before going on to win the Laura Cup in June.

The Laura Cup is a fair step back in grade compared to a Lightning Handicap around carnival time in North Queensland but Forgiato ran a strong race at Townsville at his last start, beaten just over four lengths around a month ago. 

“He is so fresh at the moment but they might be a bit quick for him on Sunday,” Schluenz said of Forgiato.

“It is hard racing this time of year around carnival time but all my horses deserve to have a go.”

A third galloper from the barn - Well Well Well – will also go around on Sunday, entered for the Class 1 Handicap over 1400 metres with Wilson to take the ride.

The just completed 2022-23 racing season was the equal best in the career of Schluenz, preparing six winners.

She collected six victories the two prior campaigns, as well, but improved her strike-rate to 17.1 per cent last season.