By Glenn Davis
Former Group 1 winning jockey Gary Doughty is hopeful of claiming his first Saturday metropolitan winner as a trainer with Time To Torque at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
Doughty won the Group 1 Toorak Handicap and Group 1 Caulfield Guineas in the 1980s before moving to Queensland to continue his riding career.
He still holds a place in turf history as the rider of Australia’s longest priced Group 1 winner when Abaridy claimed the 1986 Caulfield Guineas at 250-1.
Doughty was a hugely successful rider in Brisbane before his career in the saddle ended in a three-horse Ipswich fall in 2000.
He lost the vision in his right eye and suffered several skull fractures.
Doughty subsequently worked for many years as stable foreman for his wife Kelly Doughty after his riding career ended before making the decision to train in his own right only four months ago.
Since taking out his trainers’ licence, Doughty has had 22 starters for three wins with a small team of five horses in work.
Doughty expects another competitive performance from Time To Torque who was runner-up at his second start this campaign to the highly-rated Order Again over 1350-metres at Doomben on August 11.
“I didn’t think he could win first-up as it was too short but I thought he could last start,” Doughty said.
“On paper there was no speed in the race but they ran along and broke the class record that stood for years.
“He’ll run well again but I’ve got a lot of respect for Steve O’dea’s runner Sabkhat and the topweight Divine Unicorn.”
“It’s a strong race and it won’t be a walk in the park but he’ll go well.”
Time To Torque was bred by Doughty and is a brother to his former useful galloper Black Cash.
He was formerly trained by Kelly Doughty who rated him good enough for an interstate trip last spring when he finished a close fifth in the greys race at Flemington last November before two Sydney runs which included a placing at Rosehill.
Racing Queensland webnews Aug 24