Paul Gardner looks to continue winning streak in Alice Springs

[Wandering Eyes]

Alice Springs trainer Paul Gardner and Darwin-based jockey Casey Hunter are all smiles following a win at Pioneer Park in the Northern Territory’s Red Centre.

Trainer Paul Gardner hopes to extend his lead in the Alice Springs and Provincial Premiership at Pioneer Park on Sunday.

Gardner leads the way with seven victories after six meetings this season with Greg Connor, Ray Viney, and Lisa Whittle, who have four wins.

Having only returned to training on a full-time basis late last year after a three-year break, Gardner ended the 2022–23 season with 13 wins after wonder mare Roughly enjoyed a purple patch.

Gardner, who holds an owner-trainer license, has never won the trainers’ premiership in Central Australia.

“It’s quite nice to be leading,” he said.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever led the premiership this early.

“Usually, I get a few winners, but to be going this well so early, I’m very happy—put it that way.”

Gardner’s hopes this weekend rest with Quick Return and Red Wraith.

Quick Return, a five-year-old gelding, has been a gem since arriving in the Red Centre in August from the stable of Murray Bridge trainer Heather Lehmann.

After finishing third in a 1200m maiden on debut, the son of Reward For Effort disappointed when he finished 10th over 1200m (class), which made it 22 winless races.

Quick Return’s fortunes turned on September 10 when he nailed his first win in a 1400m maiden.

He made it back-to-back wins a fortnight later over 1400m (BM54) before returning a week later to seal victory over 1200m (BM54) with 62kg on his back after drawing the outside gate in a field of 10.

Last Saturday, Quick Return wasn’t disgraced when second behind Fantasy Eagle, and it’s no surprise he was the early $2.60 bookmaker favourite for the 0-64 event over 1400m on Sunday.

The fact that apprentice Dakota Gillett will claim 2kg to drop Quick Return’s weight back down to 58.5kg helps, and jumping from gate two is another bonus.

“Quick Return has done nothing wrong, and he obviously relishes the track; he goes quite well,” Gardner said.

“Six starts for three wins, a second, and a third, so I can’t complain at all.

“He’s a beautiful horse, very quiet—a credit to Heather Lehmann and husband Graham because they had him for a long time.

“He’s a pleasure to train; he does nothing wrong; he’s a very nice horse.”

Quick Return, who finished second on four occasions for the Lehmanns, had 10 starts in SA and also featured at the 2022 and 2023 Darwin Cup Carnival before relocating to Alice Springs.

Red Wraith had six starts for Murray Bridge trainer Matthew Sayers in SA, with his best result being a win at Port Augusta in an 1100m maiden in April.

The four-year-old gelding was far from convincing in his first start at Pioneer Park on September 10, when he was seventh over 1200m (0-58) before he was scratched following a mishap in the mounting yard prior to contesting yet another race over 1200m (0-58) a fortnight later.

However, the son of Charm Spirit was at his best last weekend when he kicked clear in the home straight to sink the three and four-year-olds by 3.5 lengths over 1100m (Class 2).

“He’s done really well, but he missed a start because of an injury,” Gardner said.

“He bit his tongue going out of the mounting enclosure and had a bit of blood in his mouth, so they scratched him behind the barriers.

“The owners bought him, and I leased him off them.

“He won at Port Augusta, and I said, ‘‘Well, Port Augusta measures up good with Alice Springs because it’s a very similar track’.

“Red Wraith went really well last weekend.

“It was a good win, but he’s a funny little horse—scared of a lot of things.

“At the moment, he races a bit on fear because he has only just turned four, but if I can settle him down just a little bit I think he should be a very nice horse for us.”

Red Wraith was also an early $2.50 Pendlebury Bet favourite for Sunday’s race over 1000m (BM54) and he’s a massive chance if last Saturday is any guide.

Meanwhile, Gardner has boosted his stable numbers, stressing that he has invested in horses with a bit more quality.

“I’ve probably got seven horses that I haven’t raced yet; they’re all tried horses,” he said.

“One of them hasn’t raced officially, but it’s had six barrier trials.

“All the others have either won a race or had a dozen to 20 starts, and they’re maidens.

“I just like to have maiden horses so that I can educate them for here because it’s hard to get them educated and get them rolling if they don’t know what to do.

“They’re the sort of horses I like to get.

“I’m feeding 16, but I’ve got a couple that have finished racing that hopefully I can get to a new home.”

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