Champion North Queensland trainer Roy Chillemi strikes back

By Glenn Davis

Three straight wins in nine days earlier this month ended a mini-form slump for champion North Queensland trainer Roy Chillemi.

Chillemi is an icon in North Queensland, winning 16 trainer’s premiership in Townsville, as well as a host of country features including the Cleveland Bay and Newmarket Handicaps and both Cairns and Cairns Amateur Cups.

The master from Tolga on the Atherton Tablelands cuts back his team during the hot summer months so having a lean trot comes with the territory for most trainers in the Far North.

“I cut back on my horses a lot every summer and I had my first holiday in years when I went away for a couple of weeks recently,” Chillemi said.

Chillemi ended a run of outs spanning over 30 starts from when Boomed won at Cooktown in the middle of November until he notched a double at Townsville on February 10.

He then made it three wins on the trot when Puss Boots was successful at Cairns nine days later.

Chillemi has had two placings from four starts since the stable treble and will head to Townsville on Tuesday hoping for more success with five starters.

He’ll be double handed in the Open Handicap with Go Getaboy and Mystery ‘N’ Magic while the consistent Invincible Bay tackles the Benchmark 65 Handicap.

Go Getaboy - a Tessa Townsend mount – had his first start since September when fourth in a field of five behind the Stephen Massingham-trained Bold Type at Cairns last Monday.

Mystery ‘N’ Magic will be ridden by Jason Taylor and is having his first start since beating one home over 1900 metres at Cairns in the middle of August of last year.

“It was a heavy track when Go Getaboy ran first-up at Cairns and he just knocked up,” Chillemi said.

“I don’t normally start horses on a heavy track first-up but the weather up this way has been so bad I had no choice.

“He’s a chance but I’d like him more if he was further into his preparation.”

Chillemi expects a competitive performance from Mystery ‘N’ Magic.

“He always races well first-up and he won’t mind it if it’s a soft track,” Chillemi said.

“I’ve also got Invincible Bay going around and he’s been very consistent and always tries.”

Invincible Bay is a former Victorian who has had seven starts for Chillemi and is coming off a third to Nebaraz in a 1400 metre Benchmark race on a heavy track at Cairns last week.