The Inflictor break delayed with wet weather convincing trainer Craig Cousins to tackle Glasshouse Handicap at Sunshine Coast

Truck driver Craig Cousins was driving past the Sunshine Coast on a wet Monday when he realised paddock-bound The Inflictor would be a big chance in the Glasshouse Handicap.

The Inflictor will back-up in the Glasshouse Handicap after winning the Tattersall's Mile at Eagle Farm last Saturday. Picture: Trackside Photography

Truck driver Craig Cousins was driving past the Sunshine Coast on another rainy day in southeast Queensland this week when the hobby trainer suddenly realised it would be madness to send in-form gelding The Inflictor for a spell.

Instead the cult galloper will back up in the $300,000 Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) on Saturday when the Queensland winter carnival draws to a conclusion.

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The Inflictor, who has collected more than $600,000 in prizemoney, will run just seven days after winning the $160,000 Tattersall’s Mile at Eagle Farm, with Rachel King on board.

Cousins said immediately after the victory that the four-year-old would have a well-deserved rest.

So what changed his mind?

“He was going for a break but he hadn’t gone to the paddock,” Cousins said on Wednesday.

“I drove past the Sunny Coast on Monday morning for work and I went ‘hmmm, it’s raining, he likes the wet’ and there you go.

“When I saw the noms I thought ‘that race (the Glasshouse) isn’t going to be any stronger than what he beat last week’.

“I’m not going to say the ‘S (spell) word’ but he’ll definitely go for a break after this race.

“Every time I mention that ‘S word’ they don’t race well.”

THE INFLICTOR!

The Stradbroke fairytale galloper holds on for a gritty win under @RachelK11 in the Tattersall’s Mile! 🏆

What a win for Craig Cousins & connections 👏

pic.twitter.com/glNh7PFND5

— RaceQ (@RaceQLD) June 28, 2025

Not only does The Inflictor love the sting out of the ground, he also enjoys galloping on the Corbould Park race track.

On soft tracks he has a superb record of four wins and four placings from 10 runs and although he’s yet to salute at the Sunshine Coast, he’s been runner-up three times and finished third on two occasions from five races at the track.

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“One time he got beaten by King Yoshi, who’s not the worst horse in the world, on a heavy track and the other time was Termagant (on a soft track in July last year),” Cousins said.

“He hasn’t been beaten by slouches and he’s never been out of the placings at the track.

“He’s drawn barrier nine, which is perfect for him, and his blood tests were done on Tuesday and he’s fine.”

Truck Driver and hobby trainer Craig Cousins with The Inflictor. Picture: Lachie Millard

Jag Guthmann-Chester will steer The Inflictor on Saturday, with regular rider Cejay Graham enjoying a holiday in New Zealand while she serves a suspension incurred on Stradbroke Handicap Day last month when The Inflictor finished 11th in Queensland’s premier race.

Graham copped a 14-day suspension for careless riding on King Kapa in the Hinkler Handicap.

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Nash Rawiller guided The Inflictor to victory in a Benchmark 85 (1350m) at Doomben on May 24 but he will be riding in Rockhampton this Saturday.

The Ciaron Maher-trained Warnie is the current $3.20 favourite in Glasshouse betting markets ahead of The Inflictor ($4.80) and The Kosciuszko champion Far Too Easy ($6), who also thrives on soft tracks (6:5-1-0).

Cousins said the $1.5m Listed Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on October 11 would be the next target to kickstart The Inflictor’s spring campaign.

Originally published as The Inflictor break delayed with wet weather convincing trainer Craig Cousins to tackle Glasshouse Handicap at Sunshine Coast