Belynda Kliese's colorful maiden win

By Jordan Gerrans

The late Jim Doherty was the person who instilled the love of racing into Townsville’s Belynda Kliese and the trainer was thrilled to honour her late grandfather when she won her first race on Thursday afternoon.

Kliese’s Northernontap stormed to victory at Cluden Park in Benchmark 65 company to land her maiden triumph as a conditioner since she took out her own training ticket in early October of last year.

Northernontap won in almost the exact same colours Doherty trained in during his heyday in North Queensland.

There is one slight difference to Doherty’s famous colours but Kliese honoured her ‘Pops’ in the grey, pink hoops and armbands and black cap silks.

The 45-year-old Kliese grew up around her grandfather's stables and after marrying leading local rider Graham Kliese – she was always destined for a lifetime in racing.

“It was special,” the rookie trainer said.

“There was a lot of emotion in the win. So, to see the colours out there and to go across the line first, it was absolutely amazing.

“These colours were very popular back in the day. I ordered them and was keeping them especially just for this horse.

“It was great to see them out there and hopefully he was looking down on us and helping jockey Tahlia Fenlon get across the line in them.”

Through the 1980s and 90s, Doherty was regarded as a master trainer of two-year-olds before the veteran mentor died in 2012.

Kliese’s husband Graham rode winners for Doherty in his iconic colours before he passed away.

Doherty prepared top gallopers such as Siena’s Pride, Lucky Friend and Resounding Victory, among others.

“That was my childhood growing up, we were inseparable,” Kliese said of her late grandfather.

“I was always at the races with him. 

"He didn't share a lot of his knowledge. He kept it very close to his heart.

“I can still hear him in my head each day, if I'm doing this right or wrong. But, that was my life as a kid growing up. 

“It was a real special thrill on Thursday.”

Northernontap was only having his second start for the Kliese camp on Thursday after recently being purchased from Bowen trainer Tom Button.

The galloper was also prepared by Lindsay Hatch earlier in his career. 

Kliese, who doesn’t mind a beer or two, loved the name of the five-year-old gelding and had to have the son of Encryption when she spotted him for sale. 

While she jokes that she is usually a Corona drinker, she may have to change her ways slightly with her first victory coming with Northernontap.

The win also brought a collective smile to all in the Kliese family after Graham had a fall at the Cluden Park meeting late last month and suffered two broken wrists.

“It was great for Belynda to win the race, her first with her name as a trainer as she has been involved in several that I have trained and won,” Graham said.

“She bought the horse and he is a nice horse.”

The Klieses are based at Cluden Park’s new on-course stables.

Graham initially took out a dual-licence as a trainer and rider but in more recent times, the majority of the couple's horses have been transferred over to Belynda as Graham has focused more so on his riding.

Belynda broke through for her maiden winner at her 19^th career starter.

“It was wonderful after all the hard work Graham's put in with this horse before his fall,” she said.

“He did it for him, so that's good.

“We took him to Cairns for his first start for us which we probably shouldn't have. Then we tipped him out for about eight weeks and he absolutely thrived on that so.

“Graham's done all the work on him so it’s amazing.”

Graham has won three Cleveland Bay Handicaps as a jockey and just about all the main North Queensland features with the exception of a Townsville Cup.