Big contingent from "team Rowe" at Cairns' Cannon Park

By Glenn Davis

North Queensland’s Trevor and Peter Rowe hope to build on the success of a new training partnership with a team of 10 starters at Cairns' Cannon Park on Thursday.

The father and son "Team Rowe" lodged an application to join forces almost two months ago and landed their first win together with their second starter when Love Express was successful at Townsville on November 8.

The Rowes had previously trained in their own right before going into a partnership. 

Smart Image gave the pair a second winner in a Benchmark race in Cairns on November 13.

Six-year-old gelding Love Express is back in action in the Open Handicap over 1400 metres along with stable mate Investor.

However, co-trainer Trevor finds it too difficult to separate the pair.

“To be honest I can’t split them,” Trevor said.

“Love Express was very good winning at Townsville last start and I scratched him from the Townsville Amateurs since after he drew the car park.

“He’ll be hard to beat but in saying that Investor is racing very well and if any one makes a mistake, he’ll run over the top of them all.”

As well as their two-pronged attacked in the Open race, "team Rowe" will have three starters in the Maiden Plate and another three in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap and runners in the Class 6 Plate, Ratings 0-60 Handicap and Class 1 Handicap.

Smart Image - a last start winner for the stable - will contest the Class 6 Plate. 

Love Express - a Ryan Wiggins mount - started his career in South East Queensland with Caloundra trainer Jack Duncan but was moved on after winning three races.

The son of Love Conquers All took only four starts to record his first win under Trevor Rowe’s name in October last year.

However, Love Express then produced a frustrating run of four placings in 10 starts before breaking back into the winners list under the new training partnership.

Investor will be ridden by North Queensland’s jockey of the year Lacey Morrison and is coming off a last start second to the Mark Dale-trained Modernism in a 1500 metre Class 6 at Cairns on November 13.

The five-year-old was successful three times for Trevor Rowe after winning a maiden at Canterbury in January last year for his previous trainer Greg Hickman in Sydney.

“We had an apprentice on Investor last time but we’ve gone for a senior this time,” Trevor said.

Trevor is looking forward to the New Year with his stable which is growing rapidly in numbers.

“It’s full steam ahead for Peter and I,” Trevor said.

“We’ve got heaps of babies getting ready and a couple of unraced three-year-old's.

“We’re looking forward to a good New Year.”