Townsville trainer set to tell a cool story

By Jordan Gerrans

Townsville’s Gavin Kinlyside will always have a ‘Cool Story’ to tell about his maiden winner as a trainer.

A four-year-old chestnut mare that races under the moniker of Cool Story landed the prize in the opening event from Atherton on Saturday for Kinlyside.

A long-time owner and breeder in the racing industry, the North Queenslander has been training in his own name since September of 2022.

After 15 minor place finishes from almost 80 starters in a race over the last couple of years, Cool Story will go down in the history books as the trainer’s first winner.

The daughter of Love Conquers All was a $600 purchase for the Jensen-based mentor after she previously raced in the southern areas of the Sunshine State for trainer Glenn Richardson.

“The horse never really had any decent form or anything like that – she was just picked out of the Inglis sales,” Kinlyside said.

“Horses like her, they are cheap for a reason but I like to muck around with them, get my hands on them and have a bit of a play.

“She has put on weight and most probably thrived in the surrounds as I am stabled away from the track.

“She is in and out of the paddock and in and out of the box most days.

“They spend a lot of time out in the paddock, the horses. 

"I am just trying to mix it up with her.”

After three promising runs for the Kinlyside stable through September and August, it appeared as if the mare was building nicely in her new surrounds.

In the 1200 metre maiden event to open proceedings on Saturday from Atherton, Cool Story looked to be finished as they turned for home as Superstitions and apprentice hoop Tyler Leslight took over the race.

Under the riding of Denicious Smith, Cool Story dug deep to hold out the race favourite and score by almost a length.

Veteran FNQ broadcaster John 'Bluey' Forsyth was taken by the efforts of Cool Story in the run to the line.

“That horse was on the canvas,” the long-time caller said.

“That horse fought on after being headed in the straight.”

The victory marked a winning return for Smith as well who had been on the sidelines in recent weeks with an injury.

The 44-year-old Smith – who rides some work for the barn - described Kinlyside as a ‘gentleman of racing’ following the result.

Kinlyside is a plumber by trade and prepares his team of ten in work at a 50 acre property just north of Townsville.

“I have owned a lot of winners over the years and I have just started with the training side of things,” Kinlyside said.

“It has been a long, hard slog but I enjoy it, it is my passion.

“It is a good hobby for me and it is good to get the first winner out of the way.”

The bulk of Kinlyside’s runners in races compete in the same colours of his plumbing business and carry the company’s logo on the chest.

Cool Story will be on the quick back-up this Sunday when she heads to Ewan for a Class B Handicap over 1300 metres.

The stable is set to be well represented at the Ewan non-TAB meeting with five gallopers nominated.

“She has been consistent since the day that we got her,” Kinlyside said of Cool Story.

“Her run at Cairns on a carnival day was a good one, she was at $101 that day and ran third. 

“She ran well at Mackay two starts ago and that is good company of racing.

“She has been thereabouts and that is harder competition than what she faced at Atherton on Saturday.

“Denicious rode the horse well and pushed her along when it looked like she hit a bit of a flat spot.”