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.
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.
