Herne Hill a new revelation in the north

By Glenn Davis

Former NSW sprinter Herne Hill has been a revelation since moving to Far North Queensland and will be looking to extend his winning sequence to four in Cairns on Thursday.

Herne Hill will take on open company sprinters for the first time when the gelding steps out for start number 40 in the Open Handicap over 1400 metres.

The six-year-old son of Xtravagant moved to Far North Queensland last year and has proven to be a bargain buy.

Herne Hill has won five times in eight starts for trainer Alwyn “Bones” Bailey.

“He’s a nice little horse and is well mannered,” Bailey said.

“I got him off 'Stonk Racing' in Sydney which buys horses and spells them before sending them to me.

“I’ve never had a problem since he’s been with me and he’s a good 1400 metre horse.”

Herne Hill completed a hat-trick of wins for Bailey last start when he took him to Townsville for the first time where he won a 1400 metre Benchmark race at Cluden Park last month.

“His last win was very gutsy, but he’ll be even better when he comes back from a break,” Bailey said.

“I’ll probably give him an ease up after this run and look for a suitable race when the winter carnival comes around.”

Herne Hill is a Gabrielle Semmens mount.

Meanwhile, Bailey’s son Bodine will saddle up his first starter as a trainer when Injada tackles the Benchmark 60 Handicap over 950 metres.

Bodine Bailey has worked for his father for the past decade but decided just over two months ago to branch out on his own.

Bodine doesn’t believe Injada will be a threat to his father’s starter Kitema in the race.

Kitema has won four of his past five starts including a dominant victory last start in a similar race at Innisfail last Saturday.

“Kitema was a cheap $10,000 buy off Tony Gollan in Brisbane and he’s been a good money earner,” Alwyn Bailey said.

“He licked out his feed bin after Saturday’s win so I can’t see why he won’t back-up.”