Hatch hopeful of more North Queensland success at Bowen

By Glenn Davis

After finally ending his winter carnival drought in North Queensland, trainer Lindsay Hatch is hopeful his luck can continue at Bowen on Thursday.

Hatch claimed his first feature win during the Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival this year when Sayl won the Cairns Amateur Cup on Saturday. 

He’s hoping his luck continues with five acceptors at Bowen.

“Sayl’s win in the Cairns Amateur Cup was our first win of the carnival but we did run second in the Townsville and Cairns Cups,” Hatch said.

Hatch will be double handed in the Open Handicap over 1000 metres and is confident of landing the quinella with Circularity and Writtle.

Circularity – a Justin Stanley mount - is coming off a last start fifth to the Jared Wehlow-trained O’Mudgee in the 1300 metre Cape Cleveland at Townsville on August 12.

Jockey Adrian Layt will again partner Writtle who was a last start second in a Benchmark 70 race at Home Hill on August 31.

Circularity could have started in the Cleveland Bay Handicap in Townsville but Hatch decided to take on easier opposition in the consolation race, the Cape Cleveland.

“He was an emergency for the Cleveland Bay and got a start after there was a scratching but I decided not to run him,” Hatch said.

“The Cleveland Bay looked a bit strong for him so we took the easier option and ran in the Cape Cleveland.

“He went up to win the Cape Cleveland but he didn’t back up after he ran fourth in the Townsville Lightning the week before.”

Hatch gave Circularity 10 days out in the paddock to freshen up for his Bowen assignment.

“He had those two quick runs so I gave him a short break in the paddock and he’s come back looking great and will be hard to beat,” Hatch said.

“The only dangers to him are my other runner, Writtle, and Gamboa, who I used to train.

“Writtle is flying up in North Queensland and has needed a couple of runs to come right.”

Meanwhile, Hatch has no plans to close his Townsville satellite stable where he has 10 horses in work.

“The North Queensland stable is going good and it will keep going,” Hatch said.

“Sayl is coming good after racing up north and will be nominated for the Toowoomba Cup and a Benchmark race over 2200 metres at Eagle Farm in a couple of weeks.

“Then I want to run him in the Queensland Cup over 2400 metres next month.”