Callaghan Park Racing Preview: Tuesday 5th August.

Strong Latte ready to perk up Callaghan Park punters

If ever a horse was brewing to win a race, then Strong Latte would be percolating and close to boiling over.

Trainer Sean Lennon, encouraged by the five-year-old’s Rockhampton run last Tuesday, has decided to skip maiden class in a bid to find a suitable distance for the mare who appears to be crying out for longer journeys. She will carry 54kg in the 0-55 Nu Turf Handicap (1500m).

Stemming from the same family as Group 1 winners Redoute’s Choice, Platinum Scissors, Manhattan Rain, Hurricane Sky, Umatilla and Al Maher, Strong Latte has a terrific pedigree.

The daughter of Impending and Café Scientific was first purchased as a weanling by Suman Hedge Bloodstock for $180,000 in 2021 and a year later was sold at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $110,000.

However, in September last year she was shipped north after being purchased by Manwarring Racing online for just $1,500.

From 19 starts in her lifetime, Strong Latte has run just one minor place at Grafton in a 1720m Maiden last month.

She’s a sturdy type – Since her last micro break in April, she has raced 10 times since resuming, just over three times a month.

Racing seems to be agreeing with her.

Last Tuesday at Callaghan Park, Strong Latte put in a real eye-catcher, steaming home late in the Maiden (1400m) when beaten just over three lengths in the race won by Jay Bee Ell. Sean Cormack was in the saddle, and he had every other runner in the 11-horse field in front of him with just 400m to run. The mare flashed up late catching the attention of most who were watching.

With an extra 100m to race in this event, Cormack had no hesitation in sticking with her.

Starting from barrier 4, Strong Latte looks well placed, with most of the other horse with any form drawing wider at the barrier.

Strong Latte is trained by Gladstone’s Sean Lennon, who after a history of owning, breaking in and breeding thoroughbreds, made the move into training. Lennon, a painter by trade, operates Boyne River Thoroughbreds at Calliope.

Plenty of out-of-towners at Callaghan Park

Some different names to the norm feature in Tuesday’s Callaghan Park form guide with trainers coming from near and far to race in Rockhampton.

Talented Gold Coast equestrian Holly Penfold will saddle up her Justify gelding Bauhaus, a project horse that is likely to find its way into the show ring at some point, in the 0-55 Handicap (1500m). Starting his career in Melbourne with Mick Price, Bauhaus found his way to Queensland and won a Gold Coast Maiden about 12 months ago. The $260,000 graduate of the 2022 Gold Coast Magic Millions Sale was picked up by Penfold last April for just $15,000. Penfold once worked with Toby Edmonds who also has a couple of runners, Yellowhammer (BM60 -1300m) and Battle Of Vienna (Open Handicap 1100m)at Callaghan Park.

Toowoomba’s Rochelle Pereira is bringing Double Hussle (3YO Maiden), Kobe Ascot (Maiden Handicap) and Cracker Essgee (BM60 Handicap), and Deborah Handford has recent Downs winner Whittaker set to line up in the 0-55 Handicap.

Mackay’s Joao Campeao also has a few on his horse float travelling south. His runners include Fruit Tingle (Maiden Handicap) and Rich Again (Class 1) while Phillip Pengilly travels up the highway from Gladstone with Thunder Mania (BM60 Handicap.

Change in Race Starting Times

With the Gunnedah race meeting washed out, Tuesday’s Callaghan Park race times have been adjusted.

The first Rockhampton race will now run at 1.20pm, seven minutes earlier than previously scheduled. There are 35–40-minute gaps between the remaining races with last race time to start at 5.00pm.

• RJC CEO, David Aldred.