Kirkwood makes rare Cairns trip for Belle Of The Daintree

By Glenn Davis

A feature race win can’t come quick enough for Charters Towers trainer Robert Kirkwood.

Kirkwood is one of many cattle farmers who has done it tough in recent times but he can see light at the end of the tunnel.

“It’s a lifestyle choice to be on the land and it’s been tough over the past few years,” Kirkwood said.

“But, this year has been the best for some time and cattle prices are on the way up.”

As well as raising cattle, Kirkwood runs the Towers Jockey Club where he’s been president for the past six years during his 17-year involvement at the club.

His wife Sally also is actively involved at the club, serving as club secretary for the past 10 years.

“We are responsible for all the facilities,” Kirkwood said.

Despite having his hands full running the club and managing more than 600 head of cattle on an 11,000-acre property, Kirkwood trains five horses.

The 57-year-old Kirkwood will make a rare trip to Cairns on Saturday hopeful of claiming his biggest win with Brave Agenda in the Belle Of The Daintree over 1500 metres.

Brave Agenda, raced by Kirkwood and his uncle Brian, is coming off a game second to the Scott Cooper-trained Lucky Leni in the 1400 metre Belle Of The Burdekin in Townsville on August 2.

“If she can win this race, it will be my biggest win prizemoney wise,” Kirkwood said.

“I can’t recall the race but I won a race worth $16,000 a few years ago in Cairns.”

Kirkwood, who was a former amateur jockey, expects Brave Agenda will again prove hard to beat in her attempt to win for only the third time for the stable.

“It’s going to be hard to beat Lucky Leni on her home track but my mare is going well,” he said.

“She’s definitely worth taking her all the way up to Cairns for it.

“I was very happy with her last effort but it was a tough run off a wide draw.”

Lucky Leni started her career in Brisbane with Eagle Farm trainer Desleigh Forster before being moved on to Deagon’s Jack Bruce.

A five-year-old daughter of Heroic Valour, Lucky Leni has started seven times for Cooper for two wins and two placings.