Martin Haley praised for Hatch stable results

By Garry Dell

Darling Downs trainer Lindsay Hatch is the first to admit the difficulty of operating two stables in different climatic zones but a carefully executed plan came to fruition on Saturday when he led in a quartet of winners at Townsville's Cluden Park.

It was only his second quartet in a long career as a trainer after starting out training horses when he became too heavy for riding in races.

He had been a regular visitor to North Queensland with a number of gallopers over the winter and opened a "satellite" stable in Townsville late in 2022. 

"We started out up there with about eight horses and the stable has grown under the care of former jockey and a former foreman of mine down here in Martin Haley, who put his hand up to make the move," Hatch said.

"It's taken a little while to get things working properly but Martin's done a great job with what he's got among the 16 horses in the stable and what we send up from here where I've got 43.

"Martin does most of the track work riding and of course he does what I tell him. Seriously, though it's working out really well. 

"There were some teething problems and it was a bit difficult at first in selecting the right horses because of the different weather conditions up there compared to the Downs.

"But, we got it right on Saturday and I flew home on Saturday night a happy man."

Hatch's four winners put him at the head of the Queensland trainers' list after the first Saturday meeting of the new season.

"I had a good season the one just finished with 66 winners and finished fourth in the provincial list," Hatch said

"We've got a team going to Mackay on Saturday, where I won the Cup a couple of years with Sayl, and then there's the Cairns carnival over the following two Saturdays."

Two of Hatch's winners on Saturday were piloted by Lacey Morrison, one by Justin Stanley and the other by Justin Huxtable.

Hatch rates Morrison as the best jockey in North Queensland.

Also on the program, Morrison ticked off the last remaining item on her bucket list of winning a Cleveland Bay Handicap.

The 33-year-old Haley had no qualms about putting his hand up to help set up the Townsville stable.

He is familiar with North Queensland having ridden there some years ago as an apprentice and spent his last year indentured to Mackay supremo John Manzelmann.

"Things became a bit much for me and I gave the riding away after putting on a bit too much weight," Haley said.

"But, I just love horses and I went down to Toowoomba and go a job with Lindsay riding track work and general stable duties. I was the first one to come up when the local stable was set up and there's now three of us to share the work.

"I do most of the track work riding, helped by trainer Mikhaila Brand and husband Pietro Romeo. I'm behind the scenes most of the time taking horses to and from the stables to the track on race days but it's great to share in the success we're having.

"I love the carnivals up here and with five winners over the two days makes it all worthwhile.

"I'm looking forward to going to Mackay on Saturday and then the Cairns carnival the next two weekends. It's a great time of the year."