Warp Speed claims Townsville Cup

By Glenn Davis

Warp Speed gave Toowoomba trainer Mark Goodwin his first win in the $150,000 Townsville Cup on Saturday.

Goodwin, who is in his late 70s, floated Warp Speed to Townsville in two stages. 

“It’s the first time I’ve ever been to Townsville in 60-odd years of training,” Goodwin said.

“We came up in two stages and stayed in Rocky the first night then we went on from there."

Goodwin, who has six horses in work, has won a host of country Cups in South East Queensland and was still riding track work up until four years ago. 

Warp Speed was perfectly ridden by Gold Coast jockey Michael Cahill, powering home for a commanding win over the Joshua Manzelmann-trained Fortified.

In a sensational race, the heavily-backed favourite Namazu lost all hope after putting on a rodeo display shortly after the start.

Backed into $3.10 favourite, Namazu was shooting for his third straight Townsville Cup but almost bucked his rider Ashley Butler out of the saddle in front of the big crowd before tailing off a distant last.

A former fencer in his younger days, Goodwin now plans to head south with Warp Speed for the Mackay Cup next Saturday.

Meanwhile, Bowen trainer Tom Button claimed the $100,000 Cleveland Bay Handicap when Northern Pride pulled off a spectacular betting plunge.

As much as $11 was offered for Northern Pride before he firmed to start favourite at $3.10 to give Button his second Cleveland Bay Handicap.

Button won his first Cleveland Bay with Heartbreak Harry in 2017.

Ridden by Lacey Morrison, Northern Pride lifted close to the line to down Tiger Legend, who loomed up strongly halfway down the straight for a big win.

“It’s my second win in the Cleveland Bay and it’s a race I pick out every year to try to win as my father (the late Tony Button) won it in 2000 with Yallah Stinger,” Button said.

“I was surprised when I heard Northern Pride was the only horse under double figure odds at one stage of betting.

“I always thought he’d be hard to beat as he had a few things in his favour and the owners got something out of the win.

“It was smart money in the end.”

Button said Northern Pride would continue to the Newmarket Handicap over 1400 metres in Cairns on August 17.

Button paid $20,000 for Northern Pride at an online auction after his former trainer Tony Gollan felt he was just below Brisbane grade.

The five-year-old son of Better Than Ready has now earned more than $201,000 in prize money.