Racing
Cairns Thursday: Missile ready to Thunder up north
The Cleveland Bay Handicap is Townsville’s prestigious sprint but it has been an elusive goal so far for veteran trainer Fred Wieland.
However, Wieland is not one for raising the white towel and hopes to have two irons in the fire for this year's feature.
Wieland will have another throw at the Cleveland Bay stumps with Missile Thunder who starts in the Open Handicap at Cairns on Thursday.
Stablemate Prime Ruler is Wieland's other Cleveland Bay hope and also was nominated for the Cairns sprint but will be reserved for the Open Handicap at Townsville on Friday.
Missile Thunder was originally trained by Roy Chillemi before being transferred to Wieland at the start of the year.
"He came to me after Roy cut back on his numbers as he's due to have a shoulder reconstruction and knee surgery soon," Wieland said.
"Roy's still trains a few to keep busy."
Five-year-old Missile Thunder has only started three times for Wieland but is progressing well.
The son of Smart Missile is coming off a last start third to Townsville flyer Roweiner's Dance in a 1000-metre Open at Cluden Park on May 6.
"He's going well, but he's now five and he probably needs a few races to reach his peak," Wieland said.
"This looks a winnable race for him but his owner, Tom Hedley, has a couple of others nominated which go okay."
Wieland initially had some concerns with recent rain in the Cairns district but Missile Thunder has been placed on a heavy track.
"He's not hopeless in it but it's been raining on and off here since Saturday so we don't want much more rain," he said.
Wieland has been training full time for around 25 years and has been around horses for half a century.
"I was only young when I helped my father around the stables," he said.
"I was a truck driver for Coco-Cola and I did some farrier work before I started training.
"I had a young family at the time and got into training full time when my father got sick."
Wieland has booked Brisbane jockey Sean Cormack to partner Smart Missile who has started 27 times for 10 wins and eight placings.
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