Centaur the Peoples choice award winner

By Jordan Gerrans

Animals being considered part of the family is a relatively commonplace practice.

But, for the Clark and Peoples clan – grand old galloper Centaur might actually be a family member.

“I think win, lose or draw on Saturday – he will have a seat at the table for Christmas lunch,” trainer Louie Peoples said.

Louie is referring to Saturday’s Country Cups Challenge Final in the city where Centaur is back for another crack on the big stage for bush gallopers.

Now at eight years of age, Centaur was trained by Louie’s grandfather Allan Clark between late 2019 and the middle of 2021.

He was then transferred to Allan's daughter Kristie Clark-Peoples’ stable for a few years.

When Kristie went into a partnership with her son Louie earlier this year, he went into their team.

Now that Louie is training solo, the son of Cluster is obviously now in his barn.

“He definitely is a stable favourite – especially if you ask mum,” Louie said.

“He was mum and Dave Peoples' baby first before I entered the scene.

“But, he has been quite good to the family and his strike-rate is unreal actually.”

The ownership of the veteran gelding is stacked with Clark and Peoples’ as well.

“When he first came to us he was a skinny barrier rat who was barred,” Kristie said.

“I never thought he’d do much and here we are now with him."

He has now won 10 races and brought in more than $160,000 in career earnings. 

The Clark and Peoples surnames have a deep racing history in several regions of the Sunshine State.

Kristie’s father Allan, who most recently trained at Rockhampton, was based previously based in the Central West for many years and claimed the Longreach Cup six times.

Kristie’s husband David Peoples also previously trained a team of horses and is still hands-on with the stable.

Centaur won the feature Longreach Cup back in 2022 before finishing second by a nose in his attempt to win the event in two straight seasons last year.

Centaur has qualified for the last two Country Cups Challenge Finals in the city where he has finished third and seventh respectively.

He gets in with the light weight of 52kg on Saturday at his third tilt at the event with Taylor Marshall booked to do the steering.

“He kicked a fence at home a while back and we were forced to give him a freshen up,” Louie said.

“It is probably the best thing that could have happened to him because he ran well at Gayndah before winning the Gympie Cup.”

Louie’s apprentice Erin Molloy qualified Centaur for the CCC decider by winning the Gympie Cup last month and she feels he is spot on for the $200,000 Final.

“I think he has a very good chance; he has been working the house down,” Molloy said.

“The win at Gympie was very tough. I think he has a good chance on Saturday.”

After commencing his training career in a partnership with his mum, the 29-year-old Louie has started training solo in recent weeks.

While it is a different name in the form guide, the passionate horseman says not much has actually changed around his Caloundra barn.

“It is going pretty good, Kristie is still involved with the stable and still comes out and likes to do a bit of work, as well,” Louie said.

“She likes to work Centaur, the old fella is her horse and she knows him so well.

“It has been pretty good and not much has changed around the stable even though we are no longer in partnership – everything is going smoothly so far.”

As well as old stable marvel Centaur, Louie will also present with I Am Good At This in Saturday’s CCC Final.

I Am Good At This is only a newcomer to his team after he qualified into the race with trainer Clinton Austin at Blackall.

Austin was keen for the galloper to be based closer to the city ahead of the rich decider instead of travelling in from the Central West this week.

Louie was effusive in his praise of Austin’s work to prepare the gelding ahead of the Final and notes he arrived at Caloundra in great order.

The son I Am Invincible won his way to town via a qualifier on his home deck and has since won again at Isisford.

The duo will be Louie’s maiden runners in the city training on his own.

“It is exciting, especially if we can have both of them run very good races,” he said.

“If we win it, it will be amazing being so early in my solo training career.

“It is a big team effort; the whole family is involved in this stable and Clinton has done a great job with his horse."

The 24-year-old Molloy gave the duo their last hit outs on Tuesday at Corbould Park and says they are ready for their rich assignment.

“They both have shown a lot of promise and I am really happy with how they have been working ahead of Saturday,” the apprentice said.

Louie spent time learning under champion trainer Peter Moody before entering the partnership with his mother.

Kristie urged him to work for the famous Queensland product and Louie says it was most certainly a beneficial time in Melbourne.  

“It was very good, I think the big stable experience I got from that was second to none,” he said.

“He has got a very professional operation and the main thing I learnt was just how those professional stables run day-in, day-out.

“It is about consistency as horses are used to their programs and they know what they are doing. It is very important for them to know what they are doing every day to ensure they don’t get too flustered.

“It was a big eye opener to work around Peter and his big operation.”

Moody will have a runner in Saturday’s CCC as he owns the Bevan Johnson-trained Caffrey.

As of Thursday morning, I Am Good At This is a $8.50 chance with bookmakers while Centaur is a $71 shot.