Gorman goes the Mishani way

By Jordan Gerrans

With the backing of ‘Mishani man’ Mike Crooks, trainer Beau Gorman believes the time was right to go back to focusing on preparing his own team of gallopers. 

Gorman initially trained his own stable before a stint working for Matthew Hoysted’s yard in Brisbane while he also spent just over a year with Donna Stanbridge, who is Crooks’ main trainer for his crop of juveniles. 

Gorman has enjoyed success in recent months with Mishani Reactor winning three races, as well as being placed twice, from five attempts since he joined the team. 

Reactor has been joined in his barn by fellow Mishani gallopers Cove and Passion, who are both yet to make their race day debuts. 

The 33-year-old Gorman is back at Ipswich full-time after working for Stanbridge in recent times while also dabbling in his own horses.

“It has been great to get some Mishani horses - Mike still supports me, which is good,” Gorman said.

“I put the idea to Mike that I wanted to go back out on my own and he was very supportive.

“That helped with the decision.

“It was a good learning experience working for other stables and now I am keen to work that into my own team.”

Reactor, Cove and Passion are unlikely to be the only Mishani stock who bob up at Gorman’s in the coming months. 

He has an untried youngster from the boisterous Crooks and he is also likely to take on a few more tried horses soon. 

Mishani Reactor has been the driving force behind Gorman’s strong start to the new campaign. 

He has four winners to his name, the other coming from Smackeroony, and has a 28.6% strike-rate from just 14 runners.

Amazingly, he has a 85.7% strike-rate when it comes to his horses finishing in the top three.

While it is only a small sample size, it has been a fruitful last few months for Gorman since he started focusing on his own gallopers again.

He has horses accepted for Wondai and Stanthorpe for Saturday on the bush circuit.

Smackeroony will be looking to transfer his consistent form since he joined Gorman’s team from Jake Capewell to a heat of the popular Burnett To The Beach series. 

The series consists of six heats before a $20,000 Final at Nanango in the middle of December. 

Smackeroony went all the way out to Betoota in late August before winning at Morven and the gelding was placed at Eidsvold in his most recent outing. 

The four-year-old son of Spirit Of Boom has not missed a placing in three efforts for his new stable.

“He has been super,” Gorman said of Smackeroony.

“He has been really honest because not many horses can travel 15 horses each way and keep racing on consistently after a big trip like that.

“It was a good experience for the horse.

“He is a pretty laid-back and cool customer which has probably helped him a lot with his demeanour.

“That has gone a long way and helped him come through those runs.

“He has continued on and progressed through his grades.”

Smackeroony is a talented galloper, which was on show when he broke his maiden status by more than seven lengths at Wondai in middle of July. 

After being moved on by Capewell, Gorman spoke to close friend Georgina Cartwright – who rode him earlier in his career – and the top hoop suggested that Smackeroony may be a smart acquisition.

Gorman says he will consider pressing on through the Burnett To The Beach series with Smackeroony after realizing the attractive prizemoney on offer. 

Of his other runners this Saturday, Gorman believes Shackamaxon will be competitive at Wondai while Zelezny heads to Stanthorpe for his first start for the stable after previously racing in Rockhampton. 

“She will appreciate the rise in distance,” Gorman said of Shackamaxon. 

“She did not handle the going at Eidsvold, it was a bit firm out there for her.

“Wondai being sand will suit her better and she should be in with a good shot.”