Speedsters to continue rivalry

THE ongoing quest for one-upmanship between Central Queensland's brilliant speedsters Carry The Clubs and Aspiran is headed for another showdown in Brisbane on Saturday week.

The pair will continue their close rivalry – they are tied at four-all – when they clash for the ninth time in the $50,000 Open Handicap (1010m) at Doomben on September 11.

Both are sired by Riverside Stud stallion Bagger Vance and foaled on the same day in August 2005.

Carry The Clubs beat Aspiran narrowly at their most recent clash, at Doomben over 1010 metres on August 21.

Carry The Clubs, a chestnut gelding raced, bred and trained by Les Jamieson and family from Dysart, was despatched to Deagon trainer Darren Bell after an unlucky unplaced run in Townsville's Cleveland Bay Handicap in the weeks leading up to his August 21 victory.

“He has really trained on well since that win and I am very pleased with him,” Bell said yesterday. “He is well suited to the short-course races at Brisbane at this time of year and really there is little else for him. I had him here earlier in the year and he has developed into a magnificent-looking horse. Les (Jamieson) has done a remarkable job with him.”

Bell said it was likely that Carry The Clubs, who earlier in his career was ridden for speed in his races, was likely to be ridden quietly again at his next clash with Aspiran.

“He was ridden quite cold last start and he relaxed beautifully. I was a little surprised that he finished so fast from so far back. It was a top effort as that mare (Aspiran) is pretty quick.”

Rockhampton trainer Vic Vagg had no hesitation in declaring that Aspiran would be on the road again for her fourth “hit and run” mission this preparation.

“She is a seasoned traveller and really handles it well, as her form indicates from the trips there this time in. She came home after the last run and spent three days in the paddock of her owner and has thrived. She is big and strong now and going well. Probably that boy Tim Bell will ride her again,” Vagg said.

Another Rockhampton trainer, Tim Cook, said he was prepared to forgive Embracing's disappointing run when well back in Brisbane last Saturday.

“He had a bad float trip down and I don't think that helped. I'll just see how he recovers and may take him back down to Brisbane in six weeks time for another go,” Cook said.

He said his promising Charge Forward gelding Queue Jumper was likely to start in a $20,000 QTIS Maiden (1050m) at Mackay next Saturday.

Tough Gatton horse Afleet Boy might start in Saturday's $6000 Open Handicap (1300m) at Emerald as a final lead-up to the $15,250 Thangool Cup (1600m) the following Saturday.

In the space of just over three weeks Afleet Boy, a son of Merlo Stud stallion Afleetaffair, has won his Gatton trainer Garry Teal $20,000 in prizemoney through consecutive wins in the Gladstone Cup, a Rockhampton Class 6 and Yeppoon Open.