Massingham dreaming of triple winter feature

By Glenn Davis

To win a hometown feature is the dream of every trainer.

But, to win three features at carnival time is something special to remember.

That’s the dream of premier Cairns trainer Stephen Massingham who has his big guns Speed Legend and Smart Legend shaping as his major players in the Cairns Newmarket and Cairns Cup on Friday and Saturday.

The brand-new three-day Cairns Super Carnival kicked off with the Cairns Amateur Cup and Lightning Handicap at Cannon Park last Saturday and concludes with the $150,000 Cairns Cup and Magic Millions Daintree Guineas on Saturday.

The $100,000 Cairns Newmarket over 1400 metres is the feature sprint on Friday.

Massingham started the three-day carnival by winning the Cairns Lightning last Saturday with Lady Damus and now turns his attention to the final two days.

Speed Legend - Ryan Wiggins mount - is seeking redemption in the 1400 metre Cairns Newmarket after an unlucky second to the Jamie McConachy-trained Montenegro Man in last year’s sprint.

Now a nine-year-old, Speed Legend was trained at the time by another North Queensland legend in Roy Chillemi when he was desperately unlucky not to win the Cairns Newmarket after missing a run at the top of the straight.

Speed Legend was later transferred to Massingham for this year’s winter campaign after Chillemi decided to scale back on his training operations.

A son of Star Witness, Speed Legend has won three of his four starts under Massingham’s care and is coming off dominant victory in the Cleveland Bay Handicap in Townsville earlier this month.

“He went super in the Cleveland Bay and he hasn’t gone backwards,” Massingham said. 

“We won the Lightning on Saturday with Lady Damus and it would be great if we can win the three main races, but you never count your chickens first.”

Massingham holds a massive number of gallopers nominated for the final two days of the carnival and is hopeful his two “legends” can claim their respective features.

Smart Legend - a Sean Cormack mount - will be chasing a third Cairns Cup trophy for Massingham following previous wins from The Harrovian in 2019 and Magnum Forty Four in 2011.

Massingham also has Armour Force and Mr Maestro nominated for the Cairns Cup.

Armour Force did his best work late when fourth to the Fred Wieland-trained Perovic in the Cairns Amateur Cup last Saturday while Mr Maestro was a brave fifth in the Townsville Cup behind Toowoomba’s Quothquan.

“Smart Legend is the pick of the three but only just,” Massingham said.

“Armour Force is a chance if he puts his best foot forward while Mr Maestro should improve and the 2100 metres on his home track suits.”