Racing
Townsville Saturday: Oligated to return to winning form
Townsville Guineas winner Obligated could book a trip to Brisbane in the near future if the gelding returns to winning form at Cluden Park on Saturday.
Mackay trainer Lyle Wright rates Obligated highly after winning the Townsville Guineas last August during a disrupted campaign.
Obligated was a bargain buy at $6,000 and has started 19 times for seven wins and six placings with prizemoney earnings of more than $153,000.
A son of Lord Of The Sky, Obligated is coming off a last start third to the Jason Morgan-trained Doubting Eye in a 1000-metre Open at Rockhampton on January 8.
"He's a very good horse and I've got a very high opinion of him," Wright said.
"Nothing went to plan with him last campaign even though he won the Townsville Guineas.
"This campaign will tell the tale with him but I rate him good enough to go to Brisbane.
"We haven't looked at any particular race but a no-metro win will do before he comes home for the winter carnival here."
Wright has trained many good horses over the years including Cyclone Topgirl who retired with 10 victories to her name from 16 starts and earned more than $271,000 for connections.
As well as Cyclone Topgirl, Wright trained Purple Hand and Willey Worry who were crowned Horse Of The Year during their racing days in Mackay and Classy Crystal who earned Horse Of The Year honours in Rockhampton in 2010.
While Wright believes Obligated is above average he has a healthy regard for rival From The Moment.
Trainer Michael Geaney's biggest win of his career was in a Townsville Cup and he's convinced From The Moment can follow a similar path.
Geaney was only just starting out on his training journey when he won the Townsville Cup with Lady Skills in 2018.
With a small team in work, Geaney was working full time as an air conditioner mechanic and electrician when he claimed the Townsville Cup as a relatively unknown.
The 38-year-old still trains as a hobby and hopes to eyeball the Townsville Cup this year with From The Moment.
However, Geaney is in two minds about starting From The Moment.
A daughter of Impending, From The Moment has had three starts back this campaign and is coming off a last start fourth in a 1400-metre Open at Cluden Park last Friday.
"She's flying without winning," Geaney said.
"She was three wide with 61kgs the day she ran a great race when she fran second first-up but then she was beaten by the tempo at her last two starts.
Geaney is concerned with the Townsville heat and will make a late call before giving the six-year-old the green light to start.
"It's been really hot and humid up here and she's not the best of sweaters so I'll see what the weather is like," Geaney said.
In 2024, From The Moment strung together a picket fence of four straight wins which encouraged Geaney to set sail for last year's Townsville Cup.
"I was getting her ready for the Townsville Cup last year when she hurt her hamstring when she ran fourth in Mackay last May," he said.
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