Sinclair takes the lead of his training career

By Jordan Gerrans

Central Queensland’s Kale Sinclair has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the training ranks and he is hoping it can keep rolling in Saturday’s Burnett to the Beach series heat at Gympie.

The 33-year-old prepared his maiden winner as a trainer in the first month of last year.

Fast forward to the 2024 Queensland Thoroughbred Awards, held in late September, and Sinclair was on stage accepting a prize in front of his family and loyal group of owners.

Sinclair’s Take The Lead was crowned the Country Horse Of The Year in the Sunshine State for the season.

The Rockhampton-based conditioner picked up the gelding in July of last year and he has won nine races with him since.

Take The Lead heads to Gympie this Saturday alongside stablemate Chill Out Miss who will have her first start in the Burnett to the Beach series of 2024.

The popular BTTB series consists of six heats – with four already run - before the rich Final in the middle of December.

Points are awarded at each heat ahead of the decider.

Chill Out Miss is first-up from a spell in the 1170 metre heat of the series, which is run at Benchmark 55 Handicap level on Saturday.

“She has come back really good, she galloped the other day and that was almost the best I have seen her gallop,” Sinclair said.

“She was flying – she is looking good and is fit. I cannot fault her at the moment.

“As long as she gets a good run and luck goes our way, she will definitely be hard to beat, I think.”

Impressive apprentice hoop Chloe Lowe takes the seat on Chill Out Miss on Saturday.

The grey mare has only won once from nine attempts since transferring into Sinclair’s barn but he is hopeful she is ready to put her best foot forward on the sand at Gympie Turf Club.

Developed by the South East region race clubs, the Burnett to the Beach series is a group of races with above standard prize money.

Following Gympie’s heat on Saturday, the series continues at Bundaberg next month.

“I am open to chasing the series,” Sinclair said.

“There is probably a good chance we will be going to Bundaberg for the last leg of the series in a few weeks’ time.”

The BTTB Final will be held on December 14 and will be raced as a Benchmark 55 Handicap over 1200 metres with $20,000 on the line.

To be eligible to compete in the Final, horses must have competed in a minimum of one heat.

To be eligible to compete in a heat, a horse must have started in a minimum of three non-TAB races in Queensland in the 12 months immediately preceding the acceptance date for that heat specifically.

Sinclair was previously based at Thangool when he commenced his training career early last year but has since shifted into Rockhampton.

He is based not far from the Callaghan Park track.

Take The Lead will be looking to continue his brilliant record for Sinclair in the Benchmark 60 Handicap over 1470 metres with apprentice hoop Isabel Jessop engaged.

Sinclair landed the Hallowed Crown gelding for a paltry $1,000 and he has gone on to win nine races from 24 attempts under his care. 

The seven-year-old has been to the races on 14 occasions this year and Sinclair notes he is still fresh and keen to race.

He is likely to have one or two more starts in 2024 before going out for a break over summer and targeting an array of bush Cups next year.

Sinclair and his owners soaked up the experience of being honoured at the 2024 Queensland Thoroughbred Awards in Brisbane.

“I took the old girl and a few of the owners, who is my best mate and his father, we had a good time,” he said.

“I said to the owners that we may never experience something like this again accepting an award.

“We enjoyed it. We have been pretty lucky with the horse.

“He is such an honest horse, he has never had any dramas and could easily be a kid’s pony.”

Take The Lead is likely to live out his days at Sinclair’s property when he does eventually retire as his two young children enjoy riding him.

Sinclair prepares a team of three with Holy Crown nominated for a 1300 metre event on Friday of next week at Rockhampton.