Satherley excited to test his 2YO Classic hope.

He has an old head on a young body, according to his trainer/jockey Warwick Satherley, and the unraced Saraqael looks a chance to make a winning debut in Thursday’s TAB QTIS 2YO Handicap (1100m) at Callaghan Park.

With a small field to take their place in this race, punters will likely single out just two they want to back, Honourbefore Glory from the Clinton Taylor stable, who has had one start for an impressive victory, and recent Rockhampton barrier trial winner Saraqael.

Satherley, and the Flying Artie gelding’s owners, his sister Susan and his partner Joanna Anderson are very focused on winning a big prize, still about 70 days away, but right now they are very excited to see how their baby shapes up on debut.

A bargain for $8,000 at last year’s Capricornia Yearling Sale, Saraqael is being readied for the $150,000 + bonuses 2YO Classic at Callaghan Park in April and judging on what he has shown so far, he is right on track to contest the feature race which is only open to horses that went through the RJC’s sale.

Satherley, who broke the well-mannered youngster in, trialed Saraqael at Callaghan Park 17 days ago and he impressed, cruising to a 4.25 length win over Abosulte Bottler and Embezzles.

“I just kept him comfortable, and he wasn’t extended in the trial,” Satherley who was in the saddle said.

That’s an ominous statement from the dual licensee who also believes that Saraqael is forward enough and progressive enough to win first up. But in saying that he is wary about the form runner, Honourbefore Glory (Justin Stanley) who won its only race start over 1050m at Callaghan Park on 9 January.

“We will just see what happens in this race, it will be a really good guide to what we have going forward,” Satherley said.

The outcome will determine Saraqael’s immediate future.

“There’s a 2YO Maiden coming up (14 February), if he needs it, or perhaps we will be in a position to tip him out, right after this one,” Satherley said.

Satherley and Anderson purchased Saraqael on sight at the Magic Millions CYS auction last year. “I just liked the look of him, initially I didn’t even look at how he was bred, he just looked good to me,” he said. When I sat down before the sale I delved deeper into his pedigree and I noticed all the Group performers in his breeding.”

Saraqael’s half-brother Beholder (Deep Field – Beauty Is) won races in Australia and Hong Kong and his grandam, Absolut Glam won the Group 1 Tatt’s Winter Stakes and Group 2 Moonee Valley Oaks Classic. “There lots of Group winners including top South African horses in his breeding,” Satherley said.

DUAL LICENSEE GETS A SHOT AT A DOUBLE

It could be a grand day for Satherley who has a 50% winning strike with his only other horse, Sir Grace.

A New Zealand bred 4YO raced in the same ownership as Saraqael, Sir Grace has started eight times for four wins. He also has two minor placings. Sir Grace who hasn’t raced since July resumes in the Benchmark 65 Handicap (1300m). Again, his nemesis may be the Taylor stable.  Taylor has recent Rockhampton trial winner Divine Purpose (Justin Stanley) back from Melbourne and Viennawaitsforyou (Olivia Kendal) engaged in this race. Sir Grace’s long-range target is the Rockhampton Cup in July and Satherley knows he is going to get better with each run as he progresses towards that target. “He is first up, he’ll race well fresh but obviously he will be improved by the run,” Satherley said. We only have two horses in training and one of those having its first start, Satherley has never trained a double before. “It would be a milestone to tick over, that’s for sure,” he said. Sir Grace won in Mackay last July and scored three other Rockhampton wins last March and April. He went for a lengthy spell after finishing unplaced behind Parade Ground Viennawaitsforyou and Itsmemario in last year’s Capricornia Guineas at Callaghan Park.

TAYLOR’S EXPERIENCED TEAM PRIMED TO RUN

Thursday’s program kicks off at 1.05 pm with the last timed to run at 5.30 pm and all going to plan, trainer Clinton Taylor should be in for a successful afternoon.

The leading trainer starts the day with Thangool owned 2YO Honourbefore Glory, an easy winner on debut, to be ridden by Justin Stanley in the TAB QTIS 2YO Handicap (1100m). Divine Purpose is back home from Melbourne, and she resumes in the Benchmark 65 Handicap (1300m). She hasn’t raced since September when unplaced at Eagle Farm. Last season Divine Purpose was placed twice at Caulfield and once at Moonee Valley, when trained by Peter Moody. Divine Purpose, to be ridden by Stanley, will be joined in this race by talented stablemate Viennawaitsforyou (Olivia Kendal).

Hellish is the form horse of Central Queensland and he could really go places this campaign. Taylor and Stanley will be pleased with the number one barrier draw in the Open Handicap (1100m). The Hellbent 4YO won five races in a row for Taylor between August and October last year including an easy Class 6 (1200m) at his latest run on 19 October. Since then, the former Victorian has won an Open barrier trial defeating stablemate Divine Purpose over 900m this month.

Mikki Isle 5YO Diddly Squat (Justin Stanley) makes its local debut in the QTIS Class 3 (1100m). A Ballarat and Cranbourne winner last season, the gelding has won two local barrier trials since joining Taylor’s stable. There’s also plenty to like about stablemate Trickateer (Ashley Butler) in this race. He won a Mackay Class 2 Handicap (1200m) just before Christmas.

In the QTIS 3YO Handicap (1100m), Taylor has two runners, Catmiss (Georgina Cartwright) and Run Away Renee (Justin Stanley). Dubious filly Run Away Renee won over 1200m at Callaghan Park on debut last July and resumed for a third placing to the John Wigginton-trained Power Of Katie at its first starts this year in 3YO (1100m) in Mackay. Run Away Renee again meets Power of Katie (Warwick Satherley) in this race but meets that filly 3kg better for being beat by just over half a length. Calyx filly Catmiss was a Rocky Maiden winner over 1200m on New Year’s Eve.

Taylor and Stanley combine with deceiver, The Hairdresser in the last on the program, the 0-55 Handicap (1400m). The Inference mare has been well backed at nine starts since without success since she won at Callaghan Park in March last year.

TOOWOOMBA VISITORS HAVE GOOD FORM

Toowoomba’s, jockey Olivia Kendal and trainer Paul Wallace will pair up with three starters at Callaghan Park.

Flank Speed, a recent runner-up at Toowoomba’s Clifford Park runs in the Open Handicap (1100m). The 4YO by Power has a one in four winning strike winning five times from just 20 starts. The mare has also been in the minor placings seven times. The fleet-footed Flank Speed ran second to Shows A Sign in an 870m scamper on December 14 and at its most recent start 28 December she also ran second at Taroom over 1000m. Another in-form runner for Wallace is Inatick, A 4YO Kobayashi gelding with three wins from 14 starts. Inatick runs in the QTIS Class 3 Handicap (1100m). With Kendal’s two-kilogram apprentice allowance Inatick gets into this race nicely. Wallace will also start last-start Bell winner Aurelian Blan in the 0-55 Handicap (1400m).

• David Aldred (RJC CEO)