Going Nuclear heads for Townsville Amateurs

By Glenn Davis

Townsville trainer Matthew McGuire is hoping his patience with Going Nuclear could reap dividends when the former Victorian is aimed at next year’s Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival.

McGuire was reluctant to tackle this year’s northern winter features with the five-year-old son of Nicconi and was content to take him through his grades.

Going Nuclear was an $8,000 buy online after winning one of his eight starts for Melbourne trainer Danny O’Brien.

But, since joining McGuire’s stable 12 months ago, Going Nuclear has been a bargain buy.

He has won four times and placed on another six occasions in 14 starts in North Queensland.

“He had to get used to his new surroundings when he first came to me and he’s really come on in his second preparation,” McGuire said.

“It was very tempting to have a go at this year’s winter, but his ratings were a bit low, so we decided to go through the grades with him.”

McGuire will head to Townsville’s Cluden Park on Tuesday with Going Nuclear and is confident he’ll be competitive in the Open Handicap over 1609 metres.

“He won the Cape Cleveland in Townsville two starts back which is the consolation race for the Cleveland Bay,” McGuire said.

Going Nuclear has started once since then when he finished second in a 1400 metre Benchmark race in Cairns on August 23.

“Winning the Cape Cleveland was a real highlight for his owners and the whole team at the stable,” McGuire said.

“He was beaten by a better one on the day in Cairns last start and there were no excuses.

“After this run, he’ll aim for the Townsville Amateurs Cup next month which will probably be his last run before he goes for a spell and then he’ll come back for next year’s Townsville carnival.

“He hasn’t gone backwards since his Cairns run so hopefully, he can replicate his good form on Tuesday.”

McGuire also is hoping to aim Going Nuclear for the Country Cups Challenge Final in Brisbane.

As well as training a team of 15, McGuire spends most weekends playing for the local Norths Cricket Club in Townsville. 

“I’m a top order batsman for Norths and I’ve played a lot of cricket ever since I played junior cricket,” he said.

“I used to be captain in the A Grade side, but I gave it away when I took up training about six years ago.”

Going Nuclear is raced in a big syndicate which includes McGuire and his parents, Patrick and Michelle McGuire, as well as his sister.