Promising Paniagua aims for four on trot
Emerging gelding Paniagua has owners spread out across north Queensland and they are “giggly” ahead of his crack at the Mackay Magic Millions Whitsunday 3YO Guineas on Friday.
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As a third-generation owner, Mel Johnstone knows a thing or two about having a slow, disappointing horse.
The Burdekin-based Johnstone has had a few, and seen many more over the journey.
But, she thinks she has the absolute opposite with the Mareeba-trained Paniagua, who is shooting for four wins on the bounce on Friday afternoon on Mackay Cup Day.
Johnstone is one of a handful spread out FNQ owners who have a share in the three-year-old bay gelding, trained by Alex Malliff at Mareeba.
Paniagua was just a “cheapie” but he has well and truly paid for himself already and will go searching for his biggest payday yet in the $35,000 Mackay Magic Millions Whitsunday 3YO Guineas (1560m).
“This horse has done a lot better than expected, it was such a cheap buy for a share it was hard to say no,” Johnstone said.
“His first few starts were average and his southern form was below average so I wasn’t expecting much.
“Being a Tapiolas, I am a from a third-generation horse owning family, both my father and grandfather are and were trainers, so I have seen my fair share of disappointments.
“When Paniagua came second as a maiden in an Open three-year-old at $151 I knew we had something special and he has won three straight since then.”
The Malliff team rarely makes the long trip to the sugar city but will on Friday with their emerging stable star for a slice of the $35,000 prize.
Trainer Malliff, who has collected four winners from his last 15 starters, described Paniagua’s group of owners as “the most loyal in the game”, with many having a number of horses with the team.
“The Pormpuraaw connection of Dean Batze and Glen Smith couldn’t wait to jump on to him, local painting contractor Tony Hubbard has a share in most of our horses and Mel Johnstone from Townsville is racing royalty she knows a good thing when she sees it,” Malliff said.
“Damien Nowak is brand new to racehorse ownership and James Buckingham is a family connection and is a local farrier.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen James this excited about shoeing a horse, he plated him this week and was all giggly.”
There is a big FNQ contingent ready for a crack at the Guineas with Cairns’ Trevor Rowe and Tolga trainer Janel Ryan also having chances.
Leading NQ jockey Wanderson D’Avila will pilot Southern Swing for the Rowe’s.
Townsville trainer Alby Molino has a Cairns-owned horse ready for the 2000m Mackay Cup on Friday while in the $65,000 Newmarket, Tolga’s Ryan has one chance while Lawrence Reys also has a hopeful.
Originally published as Promising Paniagua aims for four on trot