Demon Award headed for Cairns Newmarket after Cluden win

By Garry Dell

Progressive galloper Demon Award will head to the Cairns Newmarket feature after a brilliant "hometown" victory at Townsville's Cluden Park on Saturday.

The Les Gordy-trained five-year-old gelding was superbly ridden by Carl Spry to win the "consolation" race for the Cleveland Bay Handicap - the Cape Cleveland Benchmark 75 Handicap - on Saturday. 

He carved out the race with 61 kilograms from an unlucky Missile Thunder who is also likely to be aimed at Cairns feature events over the Cairns Cup carnival on August 17-24.

Demon Award was having his third race start in three weeks after a fifth to subsequent Cleveland Bay-winner Northern Pride and a strong second behind Queen Assassin in the Lightning Handicap on July 28.

"We're off to Cairns now," a beaming Gordy said after Saturday's win.

"I really believe this horse is a genuine 1400 metre galloper but I was hoping he would get a spot in the Cleveland Bay. He's been a work in progress this preparation and has brought himself undone a couple of times by over-racing mid-race.

"But, he went better in the Lightning when allowed to bowl along and finished the race off well.

"Carl had ridden him prior to Saturday and was awake to his antics.

"He used his natural pace from a middle draw to sit outside Roweiner's Dance and Carl said he knew he had the younger horse beaten at the top of the straight.

"Carl said he hit the front a bit earlier than he wanted but was strong to the line and pulled up as sound as a bell. He's on the way to being a great stable replacement for Bullion Wolf with whom we won feature races at Cluden and Cairns.

"Demon has a way to go yet to match 'Wolfie's' record but he's only just turned five-years-old and hasn't been over-raced."

Former brilliant two-year-old Missile Thunder showed his best form since knee surgeries and followed his flashing fourth to Cleveland Bay winner-Northern Pride two weeks ago with a solid second after racing four-wide from his outside barrier and apprentice jockey Tyler Leslight went searching for inside runs in the straight.

Missile Thunder has won twice since his operations and was narrowly beaten by stable mate Go Getaboy at Cairns four starts ago.