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.