breednet.com.au

Former Victorian galloper strives for owner's Townsville Cup dream

Ben Dorries - Thursday July 27

Former Victorian Flying Light will try to fulfil his owner's lifelong dream when he runs in the $100,000 Townsville Cup (2000m) on Saturday.

Advertisement
Flying Light winning at Flemington in his former life in Victoria Photo: Darryl Sherer

Flying Light was formerly trained by the David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig team and won consecutive 2000m races at Flemington during the 2016/17 festive season period.

He was purchased by north Queensland grazier and racing identity Tom Sheahan, specifically to try to win the Townsville Cup, and sent to Brisbane to be trained by Barry Baldwin.

Sheahan has had a lot of good horses but is probably best known in racing circles for owning multiple Stakes-winning Queensland sprinter Burdekin Blues, which was also trained by Baldwin.

Sheahan is in his 80s and hasn't enjoyed the best of health lately and it has always been his dream to win the Townsville Cup.

"We won a race with Burdekin Blues at Flemington on Oaks day one year, and Tom and I were sitting there sipping champagne and I was thinking life was pretty good," Baldwin said.

"But Tom turned to me and said he 'this is great, but all I want to do is win the Townsville Cup.'

"Tom has long been looking for a horse to win the Townsville Cup and he thinks Flying Light could be the one."

Flying Light has had four starts for Baldwin with no wins, but all have been over unsuitable distances while lugging big weights.

His entire preparation has been geared towards the Townsville Cup – but unfortunately there was no luck at the barrier draw when the four-year-old gelding drew barrier 19.

But Baldwin does not think that is the end of his chances.

"The barrier draw was a bit of a setback but if he runs anything like his Melbourne form over this distance, he should be going very close to winning," Baldwin said.

"He has only been set for this one race.

"He can race forward – that was often his pattern in Melbourne – but up here in Queensland they go a bit harder in these distance races so he will probably be getting back.

"He has been up in Townsville for 10 days and has had a couple of looks at the track.

"It is all systems go."

Flying Light, to be ridden by Adrian Coome, is at $7 on UBET's Townsville Cup market only behind equal $6 favourites Fastnet Flyer and Chivadahlii.
Advertisment
More Reading...
Tajana Wins G3 Sunline Vase
Many pre-race pundits had labelled Saturday’s Ellerslie’s feature, the Gr.3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (1400m) as a two-horse contest between Lollapalooza and Tajana, the two hottest three-year-old fillies of spring racing to date.
Joliestar Stakes Everest Claim
Selected for the Waller Racing slot for this year’s $20million The Everest, five year-old Zoustar mare Joliestar showed she would be a force to be reckoned with after scoring a scintillating victory in the $1million Group II ATC The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday.
First G1 Winner For Calyx As Sepals Wins Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes
With most of the hype heading into this year’s running of the $1m Group 1 MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) surrounding the four-year-olds, the Cliff Brown trained Sepals justified that hype, highlighting his class to come out on top with a brilliant win.
Ears Back Wins G3 Metric Mile
North Island raids have delivered rich rewards this year for Canterbury mare Ears Back, who collected her second black-type prize in the Gr.3 Hunterville Vet Club Metric Mile (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday.
Apocalyptic Dazzles in G2 Tea Rose Victory
A big strong girl that stands above her rivals in the mounting yard, Extreme Choice filly Apocalyptic again showed her class on the track with a dominant victory in the $300,000 Group II ATC Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Melbourne Cup Favouritism For Underwood Stakes Winner Sir Delius
Having just his third Australian start, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s 2024 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale topper Sir Delius (GB) further highlighted his claim to Spring riches by winning the $1m Group 1 VRC Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Flemington.
Spring Cups Beckon As Birdman Secures Kingston Town Stakes
Having not won a race since May 2024 when trained in Ireland, connections would’ve been holding their breath in the final few strides of the Group 3 ATC Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) with Chirs Waller’s Birdman (IRE) (Free Eagle) getting his head down when it mattered, securing his second black type victory.
First Australian SW For Ghaiyyath - Yum Wins Jim Moloney Stakes
It was clear the betting public weren’t interested, but connections felt she was a good chance despite the five weeks between runs, as John McArdle’s Yum charged late to win the Listed MRC Jim Moloney Stakes (1400m), becoming the first Australian stakes winner for Darley’s Ghaiyyath (IRE).
Kiwi Bred With Your Blessing wins G3 Bill Ritchie
New Zealand-bred gelding With Your Blessing capped a consistent run of form with his first black-type success in Saturday’s A$250,000 Gr.3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) at Randwick.
Fangirl Wins $1million Channel 7 Stakes
It doesn’t carry Black Type, but the $1million ATC Channel 7 Stakes (1600m) is a G1 race in everything but name and for the second year in a row it was won by the fabulous Fangirl, who continued her love affair with the Randwick mile.