Danawi ticks the boxes for successive Townsville wins

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Chris Attard is hopeful consistent sprinter Danawi can make a quick return to the Townsville winner’s stall on Thursday after recently ending a 14-month losing streak.

Danawi – a Nathan Day mount – has drawn perfectly in barrier three for the Open Handicap over 1200 metres.

The six-year-old is dropping back in distance after coming off a strong win over Steve Massingham’s useful performer Brilliant Mind in a 1300-metre Open at Townsville on September 2.

The win ended a frustrating run of placings and was his first since saluting in an 1110-metre Benchmark race at Rockhampton in July last year.

“He’s been up a long time but he’s racing well and still enjoying himself,” Attard said.

“It took him a while before he won last start but he had three months off with a tendon injury last year and it took him six months to get going again.

“His last win was very good after he jumped in the air a little at the start.

“I think he should be hard to beat again as he always gives 100 per cent.”

Danawi started his career with Tim Martin in NSW winning the Group 3 Ming Dynasty at Rosehill in 2018 before he was dispatched to Melbourne, failing in four appearances for Clinton McDonald.

He eventually found his way to Central Queensland when Attard was based in Rockhampton and won on debut at Callaghan Park in July last year.

The win earned him a trip to Brisbane for a short campaign but he found the opposition too strong in four starts before returning to Attard’s stable.

“We bought him for $40,000 off a bloodstock agent and he came to me with a few behaviour issues,” Attard said.

“He’s well-bred being out of Secret Admirer who was a dual-Group 1 winner and they left him a stallion until he was four before he was eventually gelded.”

Attard rates the Jared Wehlow-trained Only Wanna Sing as the main threat following his last start fourth to Willygood in Cairns last Saturday.

“Jared’s horse came from last when fourth last run but he normally races on the speed,” Attard said.

“It looks the danger but he’s got to carry 61gs while we’ve only got 54.5kgs.”

Attard is now based at Townsville’s Cluden Park with a stable of 22 in work after relocating from Rockhampton recently.