Walsh stable rewarded for 1000km northern hike.

A colossal 1000km sortie to Cannon Park racecourse in Cairns paid off handsomely for Rockhampton trainer Nick Walsh today.

Walsh set newcomer Nooshbahoosh a big task, sending the previously unraced filly on a 12-hour trip north to tackle the QTIS 2YO Maiden Plate which carried prizemoney of $41,000 including a QTIS bonus.

His judgement was spot on, with the Callaghan Park trainer getting the cash in the 950m dash.

Nooshbahoosh only had its first public appearance in a Rocky barrier trial less than a week ago and despite being new, the unusually named galloper was sent out a well-backed $1.70 favourite for its debut race.

Ridden confidently by Sean Cormack, Nooshbahoosh proved way too good for Gem Of Scots (Jackson Murphy), winning by almost two lengths with Mister Tia (Wanderson Dávila) a good margin back in third place in the 11-horse field.

Prior to trekking to Cairns, Nooshbahoosh won its Callaghan Park trial, defeating Bungarribee Rain over 1000m by 1.5 lengths.

Nooshbahoosh was purchased by former Rocky trainer Jared Wehlow and Glen King/Logan Salvador Bloodstock at last year’s March Magic Millions Yearling Sale for $11,000.

The chestnut is a daughter of stakes winning stallion Sun City from the Star Witness mare Casual Witness. The filly’s pedigree gets interesting a couple of generations back with her third dam Belle Star, producing Manhattan Blues a winner of close to a quarter million dollars. Belle Star’s dam, Belltello produced Group 1 winner Ray’s Hope who ran second to Rough Habit in the 1990 Queensland Derby and second to Rough Habit again in the 1991 Doomben Cup, and the Group 2 winner Star Defence.

By David Aldred – CEO RJC.