North Queensland star could head back to city

By Glenn Davis

Talented Far North Queensland sprinter Smart Image could soon head back south if he rediscovers his best form at Townsville on Friday.

Trevor Rowe, who trains in partnership with son Peter, is confident the seven-year-old can bounce back to winning form in the Open Handicap over the 1000 metre dash at Cluden Park.

Smart Image finished a distant last in a field of five when the stable sent him down to Brisbane for the Group 3 George Moore Stakes at Doomben last month.

“I’ve put a line through that run as he didn’t handle the Heavy 10 at all,” Trevor said.

“He wasn’t a good thing in the George Moore or anything like that but he only went 200 metres and put up the white flag.

“I trucked him across the road to Eagle Farm, after we hosed him down and fed him and he ate up everything in his feed bin.

“His trackwork up here before he went down to Brisbane was the best he’s ever done and since he’s returned, he’s flying.”

Trevor has his concerns with Smart Image lumping topweight of 66.5kgs on Friday.

But, he has already pinpointed a suitable race which could see him return south for the $500,0000 Magic Millions Country Cup at the Gold Coast on January 11.

“There’s a qualifying race coming up in Townsville for the Magic Millions Country Cup which I hope to run him in,” Trevor said.

“I put him on the truck and he was back home in the stable on the Wednesday after the George Moore run so I’ll have no hesitation towing him back down myself if I have to."

Trevor also had an interest on George Moore Stakes day with stablemate Loud Noise who ran in the Country Stampede.

Peter was given the honour to call the Country Cups Challenge and Country Stampede Finals at Doomben.

Peter dabbles in regional race broadcasting in Far North Queensland when called upon by race clubs.

“Peter could easily have made a career out of race calling and it was a very proud moment for his mother and I to hear him call those two country features,” Trevor said.

“He once called a race meeting on Melbourne Cup day when he was still at school and (the late) Wayne Wilson used to help him a lot.

“He used to sit in a box above Wayne Wilson when he came up to call the big sprint meetings each year and Wayne would critique his calls.”