Demon chasing Cleveland Bay award at Cluden

By Garry Dell

Townsville galloper Demon Award is chasing a Cleveland Bay Handicap start in a virtual full-dress rehearsal at Cluden Park on Saturday.

Demon Award is among a field of hopefuls for the $100,000 Cleveland Bay (1300 metres) to be run on Townsville Cup day on August 3.

Trainer Les Gordy is confident the Shamus Award four-year-old gelding is ideally placed on the minimum 54 kilograms and needs only to draw a reasonable barrier to be among the leading chances.

"He's as good as I can get him for Saturday and everything's going right towards the main target of North Queensland's biggest sprint," Gordy said yesterday.

"We've had a few little issues to iron out this preparation but I'm confident we've got everything sorted.

"He's a good horse and has really shown his ability in four wins since coming up from Victoria 12 months ago.

"We've been a bit unlucky with the barrier draws in a couple of his races. He does not like the rails where he's been drawn a couple of times.

"Then last start he went sideways from a middle draw and over-raced for a few strides mid-race and then forced wide on the home turn.

"But he finished the race off well and a close-up fourth in a fast time set by Chilli Jam.

"Nathan Thomas, who rode him last week, is again in the saddle and he knows the horse well."

Gordy said topweight Smart Image looked on paper to be the main danger albeit he has to give Demon Award 12 kg.

"Smart Image was very impressive first up over 1000 metres but Saturday looks a harder race and he'll need to do everything right," he said.

Gordy said depending on the outcome of Saturday's race, he would look forward to the Cairns Newmarket over 1400 metres at the Cannon Park Cups carnival and other sprint races at the Cairns Amateurs in September.