Deagon Trainers Have Day Out At Ipswich

Date: 27-Oct-2023

The North Brisbane training base of Deagon is known for its talented and dedicated horse people.

Their skill was on full display at Thursday’s Ipswich Turf Club meeting.

While they are few in number, that didn’t stop the training group from claiming three of the eight races on the program.

Neil Hocking, Sharryn Livingstone and Mick Lakey were the successful trainers that enjoyed the spoils of victory.

Hocking started the ball rolling when his horse, Another Dazzler, defeated the local hope and red-hot favourite Space Journey in the FOLLOW @IPSWICHTURFCLUB Maiden Handicap.

The four-year-old gelding was given a peach of a ride by Michael Hellyer who tracked the favourite in the run before moving out with a furlong to go in the 2210m contest and charging to the line for a half-length win.

Another Dazzler was on the quick back-up after finishing second at Toowoomba over 1890m.

Hocking revealed that he had no qualm running his horse just 5 days after his last run as he knew this race would suit.

“I found an easy race and at the right distance,” Hocking said.

“He got home from Toowoomba at midnight on Saturday night and got stuck straight into his dinner.

“He hasn’t drawn well in his last couple of runs so with the good draw he was able to follow the favourite through and that’s what we were hoping for.

“It panned out lovely.”

After Hocking won the opening race of the day, fellow Deagonite Livingstone struck while the iron was hot.

Livingstone put the saddle on Chakra Boy in the second race of the day, the THISISACONVERSATIONSTARTER QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Handicap over 800m.

The three-year-old gelding was having his third start over the Ipswich scamper after finishing third on debut in April and fourth three starts ago.

Chakra Boy was heavily backed, jumping a $1.50 favourite.

Gun jockey Justin Stanley made full use of the inside gate to quickly take up the running.

Once they hit the straight and the homebred son of Kobayashi gave a kick to shake his rivals, the race was as good as over.

While the 3.3 length win may have been an easy watch for those that took the short price, Livingstone admitted that she didn’t rest easy until her horse left the barrier cleanly.

“He can do a few things wrong, but Justin was pretty confident,” Livingstone said.

“I was just hoping he’d load and be comfortable in the barriers.

“Once he did that, I knew the race was his.

“He’s a bit fractious and he can miss the kick, so he needed to have that good draw.

“The family are very much sprinters.

“I don’t think they get much further than 1000m so I had no worries about bringing him back to the 800m today (Thursday)”.

On his day, Stanley is one of the best jockeys in Queensland.

The man they call ‘Judd’ registered a winning double when he teamed up with another Deagon trainer, Mick Lakey in the TAB BENCHMARK 62 Handicap with Spill The Secret.

The five-year-old son of Spill The Beans was returning to Ipswich for the first time since finishing fifth to Boom Torque first-up.

Stanley took responsibility for not winning that day, stating ‘rider error’ as the cause.

There was certainly no rider error on Thursday with Stanley delivering a peach of a ride.

With a strong tempo being set, Stanley settled five-lengths behind leader Magnitudo.

When the leaders capitulated in the straight, Spill The Secret pounced and dashed strongly to win by a neck.

Lakey paid tribute to Stanley’s winning ride.

“That’s exactly how Justin wanted to ride him,” Lakey said.

“It looked like a bit of an on-pace day today, but he said he really wanted to ride him quietly, just drop over his neck and let him be where he wants to be.

“He rides him in a lot of his work.

“He’s a light framed sort of horse and I’m just tickled pink to get a win with him.”

Stanley has plenty of time for Spill The Secret and was relieved to deliver a win for his owners.

“He’s always shown a lot this horse but he has been a little bit disappointing in his last couple,” Stanley said.

“From the one gate he was able to have a pretty soft run and was too good for them.

“I’m glad I was able to get the job done today and repay connections.”

For trainers looking for a similar boutique style training experience as they do at Deagon, the Ipswich Turf Club are able to help.

The ITC is seeking expressions of interest from training operations to lease the stable blocks adjacent to the Ipswich racecourse at 10 Mill Street, Booval, comprising 31 stables.

Expressions of interest are now open and continue through until November 17.

By Craig Sheppard

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