Gordy hoping to celebrate on Cairns Cup day

By Glenn Davis

Townsville trainer Les Gordy won’t have a runner in the Cairns Cup on Saturday, but he still hopes to be part of the day’s celebrations.

Gordy is hopeful Demon Award in the Lightning Handicap and Ringer’s Reward in the Daintree Guineas will both be highly competitive.

The trainer was forced to revert to his 'Plan B' with Demon Award after the former Victorian missed a start in the Cleveland Bay Handicap at Townsville earlier this month.

Instead, Demon Award notched up his seventh win of his 24 start career on the same day when successful in the Cleveland Bay consolation race, the Cape Cleveland, at Townsville’s Cluden Park.

It was his third start in as many weeks and came off a strong fifth to subsequent Cleveland Bay-winner Northern Pride in the Mayor’s Sprint in Townsville.

The Mayor’s Sprint winner gained an automatic start in North Queensland’s famous sprint, the Cleveland Bay.

“He just missed out getting a run in the Cleveland Bay because of his low rating,” Gordy said.

“He finished fifth at Townsville in a ballot free race for the Cleveland Bay then he would have just snuck in had he won the Townsville Lightning two runs back.

“But, he ran into Queen Assassin when he ran second and she shattered the track record that day.”

Gordy was a former 'FIFO' mines worker.

He lives in Townsville working in the same trade as an electrician.

“I used to work in the mines about five hours away, but I wanted to be closer to family so I’m now working as an electrician in Townsville,” he said.

Demon Award has been a bargain buy for Gordy who paid $37,500 when he was cashed up with a $60,000 bank.

The son of Shamus Award was formerly trained in Melbourne by Leon and Troy Corstens, winning two of his 11 starts before being offered for sale.

“He’s been a great money spinner for his owners and has won more than $107,000 in the 12 months they’ve had him,” Gordy said.

Gordy rates Demon Award highly but can’t compare him to his former star galloper Bullion Wolf who won a Cairns Amateurs Cup and Coral Coast Cup in 2021.

“As a sprinter he’s as good as Bullion Wolf but I’m not sure whether he’ll run a distance like Bullion Wolf did,” he said.

Demon Award had a few issues early in his career when he first joined the Gordy stable.

“He had a few feet issues when we first got him and it took him some time to come right but he’s flying now,” he said.

“He also races a bit fierce and I’ve tried a few things to get him to settle but I’ve found it’s best just to let him be."