Federal showdown the highlight of Townsville meeting

By Josh Spasaro

Brad Belford is expecting Federal Remark to reach the same lofty heights he found in Brisbane while back in his familiar Townsville surroundings in the coming weeks.

A last start winner at the North Queensland venue, the three-year-old will be the one to beat there again in race eight worth $4,880 and over 498 metres on Tuesday night.

Federal Remark was an impressive two-and-a-half length winner at Townsville on June 24, crossing the line in 28.63 seconds.

He almost led all the way from box seven.

He will start from box one this week in what will be an intriguing tussle with Townsville Grand Prix Final-winner Federal Bullet, who will be on his outside for Gary Farrell.

“He (Federal Remark) missed the kick (last start), actually. But, he won the Wildcard here last year,” Belford said.

“Now he’s back home and it’s taking him a couple of runs to get back to where he was.

“But, the dog in the two will be hard to beat. He goes good, Federal Bullet.”

Federal Remark will be one of four starters for Belford in race eight on Tuesday night, as well as Pretty Cindy, Jupiter and Here Wolfe.

Federal Remark’s last start victory was his first from three runs back at Townsville.

He has notched up 30 wins from 70 starts, for $111,715 in prizemoney.

When Belford and his wife Jackie were based at Churchable, their chaser had plenty of success in Brisbane, saluting on 16 occasions at Ipswich, Albion Park and Q1.

And, he went back up to Townsville to win his heat and decider of the Townsville Wildcard, also over 498 metres, in August last year.

“He’s just a race dog. He likes to race. It was different in Brisbane when we were there – we could race him twice a week,” Belford said.

“But, you can’t do it here. But, in the next few weeks he’ll be back to his best.”

Pretty Cindy, starting from box four – with 27 wins from 85 starts – will also be one to watch.

“She’ll race all right. If you take the one and two out, she’d nearly beat them,” Belford said.

“For an old girl, she’s still going pretty good. She has just lost a little bit of early pace as she’s gotten older, but she’s running on a bit better.

“But, she’ll be there. She should run in the first four.”

Belford revealed the four-year-old – by Melbourne Cup-winner My Redeemer and out of Miss Energiser – would soon become a broodbitch.

“We’re going to breed with her, so we’ve kept her going while we’ve got her,” he said.

“She’s been good to us. Last year she won the main Masters race on Brisbane Cup night.

“That was $30,000 (for winning) and then she won a few after it. So, we’ve got her back and she’s going good. She’s like a pet now.

“Probably (she’ll race for) the rest of this year. That’ll do her then. We’ll see how she’s going.”

Jupiter and Here Wolfe should also be respected.

Jupiter – with 16 wins from 92 starts – drew box six. And, Here Wolfe – with 15 victories from 86 starts – will run from the seven lane.

Both are four years of age and saluted over their last starts at 380 metres at Townsville.

“They only won over 380 metres. Here Wolfe doesn’t go as good here as he did in Brisbane, but we had to bring him home – we own him,” Belford said.

“So, we might as well keep him rolling around. And, Jupiter, he’s been good to us. I think he won three Masters 520 metre races at Albion Park.

“He’s earned plenty of money for us. While they’re still going all right, you might as well keep them going.”