Mick Boody eyes Townsville Cup repeat

By Pat McLeod

This time last year, well before the running of the Townsville Cup, Amber Boody was making room for another trophy on her mantle piece.

According to her husband, and fellow Central Queensland trainer, Mick Boody, no such housework has been happening this year.

“We are back, but the confidence level isn’t high this year,” Mick Boody said.

He embarked on the 10-hour drive from Rockhampton to Townsville with three Cup heats hopefuls, including 2023 winner More Peaches.

“I am just running for luck. And, I’ve got the five alley," Mick Boody said.

“I have taken More Peaches to Townsville recently to trial, but she trialed only 28.90 seconds and 28.80 seconds. Then I raced her there and she didn’t begin well (finishing fourth).

“The other dogs in that field weren’t too bad, but I was expecting to beat them to be any chance in the Cup.”

More Peaches will contest race nine on Friday night’s Townsville program, the sixth of seven very interesting Cup heats.

Boody also has Sergeant Green (race five) and Out The Bottle (race seven) in the heats.

He says the 12 months since More Peaches won the Group 2, $75,000-to-the-winner Final has been a frustrating run with the speedster.

A couple of months after that win she suffered an injury racing at Ipswich and since then has struggled to regain full fitness and race confidence.

“Physically, I believe she is close to 100 per cent,” Mick Boody said.

“Maybe the original injury does hamper her when she is trying to push off at the start. However, it is probably a mental and confidence issue as well.

“When I trial her one-out she is fine. But, with other dogs around her she doesn’t begin well. I will see how she goes on Friday and see if we are lucky enough to get through to maybe a consolation.

“I then might try her over 600 metres in Brisbane and if she doesn’t go well there, we will probably retire her and eventually we will breed with her.”

Originally Mick and Amber were hopeful of campaigning very promising youngster Oil Well – 10 starts for six wins and three placings – in the Townsville Cup.

However, that dog tore a back muscle in a race at Rockhampton on August 12.

“The last year has been pretty frustrating,” Mick Boody said.

“But, Amber and I learned a long time ago, if you let the heartaches get you down you will give up on the industry and get out.

“When something goes wrong, we just look forward to the next lot of young pups coming through. Racing is not an industry where you can dwell on the past. If you do that you will become disillusioned.

“We have had the good times and the heartaches. That is racing. We have learned to take it on the chin.

“We are getting older and want to scale down to have just the four or five race dogs and it would be nice if they were all as good as More Peaches at her prime.”

Friday night’s seven heats are littered with visiting heavy hitters as well as having a strong local flavour.

Brisbane trainer Tom Tzouvelis will have five runners in the Cup heats including Ipswich Golden Chase winner Saanvi and last week’s Albion Park Molly Campbell Silver Dollars success Autumn Storm.

From the same kennel will be Jedda Cutlack’s Duffman.

Successful Yandina Creek trainer Travis Elson has entered four of his speedy Fernando Bale and Nan's Magic litter as well as veteran Group performer Bear’s Bullet.

Sarina trainer Steve Scott is bringing this year’s Rockhampton Cup winner Inevitable north for the Cup heats.

Central Queensland trainer Christine Pollard has an interesting quartet of runners in the Cup heats, including her very talented Mark Sure Can, who had won 15-straight over the 407 metre journey at Rockhampton before being injured on December 13.

This will be that dog’s race return.