Townsville trainer seeking long range double

By Garry Dell

Youthful Townsville trainer Les Gordy is seeking a long-range double on Saturday at Doomben in the Country Stampede Final and on his home track at Cluden.

Gordy has Hallside Hammer as his first foray into metropolitan racing and is quietly confident the five-year-old gelding will acquit himself well first-up from a short break.

Hallside Hammer qualified for the $105,000 Stampede Final with seconds to Mister Larrabee at Ewan in September and Ruby July at Atherton over 1100 metres on October 14.

The five-year-old Love Conquers All gelding has won five times with 10 placings from his 27 starts since beginning his career with Gordy when he began training four years ago.

"We bought him as a yearling in a fairly large partnership and some of the original owners dropped out along the way so my wife and I now own 70 per cent of him," Gordy said.

"He has an almost impeccable record first-up so we're hopeful he can maintain the record.

"It would be a great thrill for us as well as my parents who have been a great help to me in my training career as I have a full-time job out in the mines and they spend many hours looking after the stable while I'm away.

"They have been looking after the horse while holidaying at the Sunshine Coast for the past three weeks and he looked in great order when I arrived down here on Thursday."

Jockey Adam Spinks has been riding him track work at Caloundra and he reported that the horse is in top order, Gordy says. 

"Dad, who hasn't enjoyed the best of health for the past few years, is doing well down here and catching up with a few mates that he rode against in his career, including the city tracks," Gordy said. 

"He has brought horses down here for other trainers over the years but this is a first with one of his own. Mum, who does all the strapping of the stable runners at home, is really excited about having a runner in the city for the first time.

"We've been lucky to get senior rider Mark Du Plessis to ride at 52kg and although we've drawn barrier 20, we'll come in with the scratching’s of emergencies.

"It's an exciting time for the whole family and whatever the outcome it's been a great thrill so far and the opportunity the Stampede series provides for country trainers is a credit to Racing Queensland. 

"The only slight query going into the race for us is the weather and its impact on the track. But, we all have to go through it and as the race is early in the program the track shouldn't be too cut up. The Love Conquers All stock handle soft conditions and his dam Hallside Rose had wet track form."

Gordy is hopeful of rounding out a double with Captain Bond in a Benchmark 65 Handicap at Cluden Park over 1200 metres later in the day.

Captain Bond, formerly trained in Sydney and on the Gold Coast, was purchased by Gordy and partners for $17,000 in an online sale in September and was an impressive winner at Cluden Park over 1000 metres on October 28 after a let-up.

He was an unlucky fifth at his latest run. 

Jackson Murphy takes the ride on Saturday.

"He's a nice horse by Capitalist and we're hopeful that he will go through the classes and measure up to the major winter carnival sprint races next year," Gordy said.

"We also have a promising staying type in Monastery who we bought with next year's North Queensland Cups in mind and he won a race for us during the Townsville carnival this year so the future is promising."