Rocky trainers look to qualify runners for rich Gold Coast races

John Wigginton and Clinton Taylor are headed in different directions as they look to qualify runners for key races.

Clinton Taylor heading south to Doomben with three starters for Saturday. Photo: Tony McMahon

Rockhampton trainers John Wigginton and Clinton Taylor and their horses are travelling in reverse directions this week, chasing identical illustrious goals.

That is automatic qualification for four of their young sprinters in two $500,000 QTIS Jewel (1200m) races at the Gold Coast on Saturday, March 8.

Wigginton was first to hit the road in the early hours of Wednesday, bound for an eight hours-plus float trip (720km) to Cluden Park racecourse in Townsville.

There on Thursday he starts fillies Electric Brae (Adam Sewell) and Better Than Words (Tahlia Fenlon) in a $37K Jewel Prelude Qualifier (1200m).

Aided by the set weights conditions, both fillies - on 55kg and on revealed race form - look stronger than their rivals and could provide the quinella result.

Trainer John Wigginton.

That doesn’t always equate but Mackay race winner Electric Brae is also a Brisbane placegetter.

Two starts back, stablemate Better Than Words set a new course record standard in winning a QTIS 3YO (1100m) at Callaghan Park on January 30.

Then just last Friday, Better Than Words came from the proverbial “mile back” and struck bother before finishing a 3.6-length fifth behind Scrub Chain in the Rocky Jewel Qualifier (1100m).

Electric Brae was second on the same day in an all-ages Class 1 (1200m) behind Charmed Passage.

However, there is a negative that the pair has to overcome - racing again in the space of just six days after travelling so far.

Jockey Adam Sewell rides Electric Brae at Townsville. Photo: Tony McMahon

Speaking from the outskirts on Townsville around noon on Wednesday, Wigginton acknowledged the “quick back-up” after the long trip was his only concern.

“It’s not ideal I know. However, I would not have travelled so far up here with them had they not done well,” he said.

“They have travelled beautifully on the float so far and naturally also I would not have put this effort in had I not thought they would race really well.

“The race doesn’t look overly strong and usually the Rocky form is much stronger than Townsville.”

Taylor, with a team of three horses - Astapor, I’m A Condygirl and Hellish, will head south along the Bruce Highway to start them at Doomben on Saturday.

The outstanding Astapor, a dual Brisbane winner for the stable, returns from an above average brief southern spring campaign in Sydney and Melbourne in the $160K Jewel 3YO Qualifier (1110m).

Unlike Taylor’s other pair, Astapor on 60kg has drawn favourably at barrier three.

“His grand final is the big race in a fortnight and originally he wasn’t going down for the Doomben race but was going to start here (Rocky) last Friday,” Taylor explained.

Rodney Hay, the owner of Astapor, and jockey Justin Stanley sporting the gun 3YO's colours. Photo: Tony McMahon

“However, when they transferred the trials (Astapor won) from the week before to the Monday after, I had to change plans.”

Stablemate, the debutant 2YO I’m A Condy Girl, a full sister to stable star Chinny Bom and a $230K purchase from the 2024 March Magic Millions QTIS Yearling Sale, contests the $177K Jewel 2YO Prelude (1100m).

On the strength of two effortless Callaghan Park barrier trial wins under race jockey Justin Stanley, rightfully so the Taylor stable has a huge option of I’m A Condygirl.

That will be put to the test from her 10 gate on Saturday while stablemate Hellish jumps from barrier 15 under 58kg in his Doomben assignment.

Hellish is out to extend his winning sequence to six after a recent fighting Callaghan Park first-up win.

Rockhampton trainer Ricky Vale’s Track Tale (Ryan Wiggins) has drawn ideally from the rails barrier and will oppose Hellish in the sixth Doomben race over 1200m at 3.07pm