By Glenn Davis
Tolga trainer Sharlee Hoffman walked a tight rope this time last year not knowing if Maquereau would be her first Townsville Cup starter because of a low rating.
Fast forward to now and Hoffman will send Maquereau around at Townsville’s Cluden Park on Saturday with the knowledge the gelding is guaranteed a start if she decides to run him in the 2000 metre feature next week.
Maquereau was having his second run this campaign when he won earlier this month over 1609 metres on a heavy track at Townsville on July 5.
The soon to be eight-year-old lines up for his 40th career start in the Open Handicap over 1609 metres on Saturday afternoon.
Hoffman has booked heavy weight jockey Aidan Holt to ride Maquereau, replacing regular hoop Lacey Morrison.
“Lacey has got a light ride on the day and with Maquereau getting 61kgs, I was afraid he’d have to carry too much dead weight if Lacey rode him,” Hoffman said.
Morrison has ridden Maquereau in all ten starts since last year’s Townsville Cup run when veteran Nathan Day was aboard.
“His last run earlier this month was very good and he pulled up well after it but I want to see how he pulls up after Saturday before deciding if he goes to the Townsville Cup,” Hoffman said.
“If he pulls up well, he’ll run in the Townsville Cup, if not he’ll go to the Cairns Cup.
“He had a low rating last year when he just scrapped into the Townsville Cup but he’s an over 80-rater now so he’ll definitely get a start if he goes there.”