Ask Me Mate to solve dilemma for Hansen

By Glenn Davis 

Rockhampton trainer Kevin Hansen only has a small stable of two in work these days but is still regarded as one of the city’s most astute trainers with a good eye for horse flesh. 

Well known for his laidback attitude, Hansen’s training skills are undeniable as he continues to unearth quality horses.

A former miner, the 74-year-old Hansen was bitten by the racing bug as a young fella when asked to ride horses around the hills and paddocks of Cracow in Central Queensland.

“I volunteered to rides horses for former trainer Evan Hartley around the hills and paddocks on a property he owned in Cracow,” Hansen said. 

“I rode and galloped them in paddocks near an airstrip out there.” 

After moving to Gladstone in 1978 to start a training career, Hansen won several trainers’ premierships before trying his luck at Ipswich in 1990. 

He relocated to Rockhampton in 2017.

Hansen has had many good horses go through his stables including Sweet Dolly.

Sweet Dolly was the winner of the QTIS Jewel Final in 2021.

Fast forward to now and Hansen has another rising star in the making in Ask Me Mate who tackles the QTIS Three-Years-Old Handicap at Callaghan Park on Tuesday.

Ask Me Mate was a $60,000 buy at the Magic Millions March sales at the Gold Coast and has started 12 times for four wins and as many placings.

The son of Better Than Ready is coming off a fast-finishing third to the Tom Smith-trained Scrub Chain in the Magic Millions Capricorn Guineas over 1400 metres at Rockhampton on July 5.

“He’s a nice horse and he’s done everything we’ve asked of him,” Hansen said.

“He was caught wide last start and ended up in a bad spot, but he still worked to the line strongly.

“The race just never panned out as we had hoped.”

Hansen is unconcerned about the drop back in distance to 1200 metres and is hoping Ask Me Mate’s performance will solve a dilemma.

“He should be hard to beat again but I’m not sure where he’ll go after this run,” he said.

“He could go up to Townsville for the Guineas or he might go to Brisbane for a no-metro race at Eagle Farm next month.

“The Guineas is over 1600 metres which doesn’t worry me, but I probably favour going to Brisbane.”