Hodgson begins path back to Magic Millions day

By Jordan Gerrans

Happily no longer race riding, former Top End jockey Felicia Bergstrand will begin her bid to get back to Magic Millions day early next year when she takes Hodgson to Caloundra on Friday evening.

The son of Hinchinbrook has come back from a break in strong fashion, scoring first-up at Beaudesert early last month before running into third at Clifford Park a fortnight later.

Group 1-winning rider Jason Taylor was in the saddle at Beaudesert and he regains the ride in Friday’s Magic Millions Country Cup qualifier at the Sunshine Coast. 

The six-year-old Hodgson finished third in the same qualifier this time last year, which was won by Stuart Kendrick’s Zoumeteor.

Zoumeteor went on to claim the $500,000 Cup on the big stage as Hodgson ran into seventh and was beaten by just over three lengths. 

Hodgson went to the paddock in the middle of May and Bergstrand has been pleased with the style of his return so far.

“We are super happy with him – he has been working great on the track,” Bergstrand said.

“His first start, that was pretty impressive when winning after sitting three wide.

“I do not think Toowoomba suited him at his last start, he did not seem to travel at all up there.

“Going into this race, he is happy and we have kept him pretty fresh.”

The Magic Millions Country Cup qualifier will be contested as a Benchmark 75 Handicap over 1000 metres with $35,000 on offer.

The 38-year-old Bergstrand prepares her small team on a property at Beaudesert and will often put Hodgson in a spelling paddock while he is in work to keep him happy and ticking along.

“He has a lot of weight on Friday with 60kg but Jason rode him super at his last win,” she said.

“That is exactly how we want him ridden, even though he sat deep, we would rather keep him out of trouble.

“Hopefully Jason can give him another good ride.

“He is a horse that goes well fresh so we play it by ear and see how the horse pulls up after every start – we do not want to back him up to often.

“We try and space the runs a little bit.

“He was bouncing after his last start so we thought we would chuck him in for Friday.”

After going through the hands of several Gold Coast trainers over the years, Hodgson has found a home with Bergstrand and has won eight times and placed on another eight occasions from 39 attempts.

The Swedish national - Bergstrand - previously prepared Smokin' Toff and Spirit Of Radio alongside Hodgson but they are no longer in work at her stable.

The tall former jockey enjoyed a strong career in the saddle in the Northern Territory after relocating from Europe.

She rode more than 200 winners, headlined by the 2016-17 season where she collected 49 victories at a tick over a 16 per cent winning strike-rate.

Bergstrand also rode in a black-type race in South Australia.

Bergstrand retired from the jockey ranks in February of 2020 and made the move to Queensland. 

Happily retired from race riding these days, Bergstrand is content dabbling in a few race horses as well as being a Queensland Off-The-Track (QOTT) Acknowledged Retrainer.

She also works for Save A Horse Australia.

“I still love riding but it would be too hard with my kids and work,” she said of riding in races again.

“My spark has come back doing more of the equestrian stuff these days, as long as you keep yourself busy doing something with horses.”

Rockhampton will also host a Magic Millions Country Cup qualifier on Thursday of next week before Townsville’s Cluden Park runs their heat two days later.