By Glenn Davis
A Sydney trip hasn’t been ruled out for tough sprinter Tarzan following his gutsy win at Doomben on Saturday.
Ridden by Luke Tarrant, Tarzan led all the way to down the well supported Bullpit by 1-1/4 lengths in the Open Handicap (1010m).
Tisani Tomso finished third, a further short neck away.
Tarzan’s win was his 9th in 21 starts and underlined the training skills of Caloundra trainer Stu Kendrick.
“Considering all the problems he’s had during his career he’s done a tremendous job,” Kendrick said.
“He’s had a tie-back operation and pulled half his hoof off as a younger horse.
“He’s also crushed his wither and had to have six months off.”
Tarzan has shown his liking for short courses and smashed the Sunshine Coast track record for 1000 metres.
“He’s going great at the moment and we’ll keep aiming for these sorts of races if he stays here,” Kendrick said.
“But I might put him on a float to Sydney first as it’s the right time of the year to go there when there’s not much around in the south.”
Kendrick believes Tarzan is capable of winning at Black-Type level and will target the Listed Lightning Handicap at the Sunshine Coast during the winter if he doesn’t head interstate.
“A race like the Lightning would be the ideal race for him as it’s on his home track at Caloundra this year,” he said.
The $100,000 Listed Lightning Handicap (1000m) will be run at the Sunshine Coast on June 2.
Kendrick is continuing to make his mark on Brisbane racing from his Caloundra base and ran second with Fullazaboot in last week’s Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast.
Meanwhile former Victorian apprentice Boris Thornton had to survive a controversial protest before claiming his first Brisbane metropolitan winner aboard Desmon’s Pride in the Class Six Handicap (1350m).
Desmon’s Pride downed Courtza King by a half head but had to survive a protest from apprentice Ruby Ride on fourth placegetter Rosie Posie.
Thornton lost his iron at the 700 metres when heavily bumped by Rosie Posie.
Ride alleged she was verbally abused in the run by Thornton who she also claimed caused repeated interference from the 700 metres.
After a lengthy deliberation stewards dismissed the protest.
Trainer Les Kelly has done a magnificent job with Desmon’s Pride who has now won six of his 11 starts for the Gold Coast trainer.
“He’s been racing really well and has now won five times this time in,” Kelly said.
“He was racing around the Taree area when I got him and he’d only won a maiden in six or seven starts.”
Racing Queensland webnews January 18