Bryan Dais likes the tunes at Warwick

By Jordan Gerrans

Bryan Dais is keen to step Cool Music up in distance after the mare returned to form by claiming the Les Clarke Memorial race at Warwick on Monday afternoon.

The Eagle Farm-based Dais has always had a strong opinion of the five-year-old daughter of Your Song but he has not been able to see the best of her over the last few years.

She broke her maiden status at Caloundra in late October of 2023 at just her second career start, but she could not trouble the scorers again until Monday afternoon at Warwick’s Allman Park in 0 - 55 Handicap grade over 1350 metres.

The 55-year-old Dais saw enough of Cool Music in the early stages of her career to run her in a couple of city Saturday events, where she was far from disgraced.

Despite starting at $19 on Monday afternoon, Kiwi Dais thought she would return to form and mare went on to score by more than two lengths.

‘She had been off the scene because she had a couple of setbacks,” the Brisbane trainer said.

“She had a bit of a stable accident and she had to have a while off.

“Then she came back and she looked like she was getting back into some form last prep, but she pulled a muscle at her hindquarter and she had to go out for an extended break then.

“It became a bit of a longer break. I wanted to make sure she was 100% right when she came back into work. She's had a good long build-up, a jump-out and a barrier trial.

“She's been working well. It was just a really suitable race for her first start.

”She's always shown good promise and it was just a relief to see her do that because that's what she's capable of.”

Cool Music’s romp in the last race of the program from Warwick on Monday was the second leg of a winning double from in-form Frenchman Damien Boche.

Dais praised the ride of Boche aboard his mare as the newcomer to Queensland put Cool Music into the race at the top of the straight and she did the rest.

The 26-year-old Boche has collected nine winners this month across the Sunshine State.

“Damien has been coming in and riding a bit of work. He was pretty impressed with her,” Dais said.

“The Frenchman rode her a treat. He knows how to steer them.”

The Les Clarke Memorial race was held on Monday to recognise the recent passing of the late Southern Downs mentor.

The respected horseman was widely admired by many within the local industry.  

Clarke passed away on the 23^rd of January. He was 85 years of age.

Dais did not meet Clarke before his death but recalls being told great things about the late trainer and says it was honour to claim the race named after him.

“I've heard of him over the years and from all accounts, he was a very good trainer and he had a few decent horses over his time,” Dais said.

“He had a couple of really good horses.

“It's a great track out there. The club do a tremendous job with their track. It's always raced fair.

“The track was in great condition and that's what Cool Music likes. She likes good firm footing and everything just played out well for her.”

Members of Clarke’s family, including his granddaughter Rachael Watts, were on hand for the presentation after the race.

Warwick Turf Club race again on the second Tuesday of March and Dais says he will consider taking Cool Music back to the track if there is a suitable race for her.

“I think 1400 metres would be ideal for her next start,” he said.

“Then she'll progress back up to the mile. I was pretty keen, before she had to go for the last break that she went out for, to get her up over 1800 metres, even 2000 metres. 

“I think now being a more mature mare, that's probably on the cards with her.”

Meanwhile, conditioner Dais is looking forward to getting the promising Golden Cross back to the races after the four-year-old won the last race of his preparation in city grade in late October of last year.

Racing as an entire last time in, Golden Cross won a Class 2 Plate over a mile on a Wednesday and the Brisbane trainer has high hopes for him looking through 2026.

“He will trial in a couple of weeks,” the trainer said.

"He's a nice horse, he's the one I'm pinning my hopes on. He's just been gelded and had a bit of a break. He's coming back and hopefully he can progress through his grades.

“I think he's a city horse, as well. I think he's a Saturday class horse for the future, for sure.

“He needed to be gelded and get his mind on the job, we've done that now, so hopefully we can go full steam ahead with him this prep.”