Time will tell for Viminele

By Glenn Davis

The formula is as uncomplicated as the man who employs it.

“A bit of good feed and plenty of care,” Eagle Farm trainer Lindsay Gough said the formula is.

That has been the guidelines to the success and training ability of Gough, who is hoping promising four-year-old Viminele could be his next big star from his stable of 20.

Gough’s ability as a trainer is well known, particularly with tried horses, and he’s always had a good one in his stables since he first took out a trainer’s licence in 1998.

Gough, 55, still dreams of training his first Group 1 winner after going close with Rampant Lion who finished second to the Michael Moroney-trained Sarrera in the weight-for-age Doomben Cup in 2008.

Another good horse he trained was the injury plagued Right Or Wrong, who was a seven-times winner from 40 starts including five placings from seven attempts at Listed level.

The opportunity of a Group 1 win has evaded Gough so far, but he is hoping Viminele can be the one to help break that drought.

A son of the ill-fated Spill The Beans, Viminele was bred by managing owner Michael Bliss, who syndicated him after he was passed in at the Magic Millions yearling sale.

Gough knew he had a horse of above average ability early in Viminele’s career.

“I’ve always liked Viminele from the day he first entered the stable,” Gough said.

“He’s got a good pedigree and Michael tells me his family has won about 30 races for him.

“His mother, Gala Affair, won three races and she’s a half-sister to Heza Bobby Dazzler who won half-a-dozen races for me.

“He’s also closely related to Goodonya Sonja, who won eight times.”

Viminele first showed his promise when Gough barrier trialled him twice, at Eagle Farm and Doomben, before he made his race debut.

At his first start, Viminele made up late ground from last on the turn to finish seventh, less than five lengths from winner Cripps Tonight in a Two-Year-Old Plate at Ipswich in July last year.

“He trialled well and I thought he could win first-up at Ipswich but he got too far back so I tipped him out for a spell,” Gough said.

“He had a decent break and he came back a much better horse in his second preparation.”

Gough gave Viminele another barrier trial at Doomben before he resumed when a betting ring wobbler in a 1000m Maiden at the Sunshine Coast at his first start as a three-year-old just over a year ago.

Despite his betting drift, Viminele ran on solidly for third, beaten by just over two lengths before scoring a resounding five-length win to break his maiden status at Kilcoy in January last year.

“They were too sharp for him first-up at the Sunshine Coast and it was only an average race when he won at Kilcoy,” he said.

“I gave him another start at the Sunshine Coast but he went bad and ran last.

“It was as very average performance so I tipped him out for another spell.”

After returning from a break, Viminele ran a brave third in a Benchmark race first-up at Eagle Farm last July.

The city placing preceded his second victory when he edged out the Tony Gollan-trained John Rambo over 1200m at the Sunshine Coast 18 days later.

“I thought he was a good chance the day he ran third first-up at Eagle Farm but it was a strong race at a decent level,” Gough said.

“He beat Tony Gollan’s good horse, John Rambo, who had a wrap on him at the time.”

The Sunshine Coast victory was the first of three wins in his next four starts for Viminele who also was successful at Eagle Farm and Doomben in August last year.

He finished fourth behind Gollan’s Freedom Rally before two impressive victories at Eagle Farm and Doomben in August.

“His run behind Freedom Rally was very good and that horse was taken to Sydney by Gollan, but something went wrong with him after he raced at Rosehill,” Gough said.

“I was very confident he could win his next run at Eagle Farm and he did it quite impressively, leading all the way.

“He came from midfield to win his next start when he stepped up to a Class Six and it was another dominant performance.”

Viminele finished 12th in the Magic Millions QTIS race at the Gold Coast earlier this month, with Gough to decide now if will be put away for the Queensland Winter Carnival.

Gough was born and raised in Townsville and has racing flowing through his veins.

His father, Barry Gough, was a former jockey turned trainer in North Queensland before coming to Brisbane to train while his brother, Darren, helps him around the stable.

“Dad’s 84 now and I’d be lost without Darren helping me out at the stable,” Gough said.

Darren was a promising rider before he was badly injured in a track fall, which ended his career in the saddle in 2014.

As a young kid growing up, horses were a familiar sight in the family backyard.

“I suppose I was always going to be a trainer. It’s in the blood,” Gough said.

Gough has earned the respect of his peers in his 20-plus years of training and has formed many friendships along the way.

One of his more notable friendships has been with Bill Mumford of Consular fame in the early 2000s.

Gough has trained many horses for Mumford who bought Consular for a paltry $20,000 as a tried horse in Victoria and sent him to Eagle Farm trainer Billy Baker to prepare.

Consular went on to earn more than $1 million in prize money with 16 wins and 14 placings from 85 starts.

His best performance was in the 2004 Stradbroke Handicap when he finished second to the Bob Thomsen-trained Thorn Park.

Time will tell whether Viminele measures up as Gough’s next big star and potential Group winner.