Gordy has ambitious plans for Demon Award

By Glenn Davis

A low rating and a horror barrier proved costly for Townsville sprinter Demon Award in the past two Cleveland Bay Handicaps, but hopes are high for a third attempt later this year.

Demon Award missed making the Cleveland Bay field in 2024 because of his low rating and ended up winning the Cape Cleveland, the consolation race for the Cleveland Bay.

Townsville hobby trainer Les Gordy hatched a plan after winning the Cape Cleveland to lift Demon’s Award’s rating by sending him to Sunshine Coast trainer Darryl Hansen in his quest to start in last year’s feature.

Under Hansen, Demon Award won at the Sunshine Coast and Rockhampton which was enough to lift his rating for last year’s Cleveland Bay.

However, hopes of a strong showing in the “Stradbroke of the North” were thwarted by an outside barrier.

Demon Award finished a brave fifth, beaten four lengths, by the Stephen Massingham-trained Speed Legend after drawing the outside barrier in the big field of 15.

“It was a great run in the Cleveland Bay from an outside gate and he had done a lot of travelling beforehand,” Gordy said.

Gordy is tossing up whether to send Demon Award back to Hansen in the near future to prepare for an assault on The Fitzroy and Newmarket Handicap in Rockhampton later this year.

“He ran third in The Fitzroy last year and I’d love to have another go at it and then the Newmarket,” Gordy said.

“Then long-term he’ll probably have another go at the Cleveland Bay but it’s a long way off.

”I’m thinking about sending him to Darryl again at the Sunshine Coast."

Demon Award - a Nathan Thomas mount - steps out for his 38th career start in the Open Handicap over 1000 metres at Cluden Park on Sunday.

A six-year-old son of Shamus Award, Demon Award has not raced since finishing fifth in a 1200 metre Open Handicap at Townsville’s Cluden Park on October 5.

“He’s been in work since Christmas and he’s coming along well,” Gordy said.

“He had a jump-out then he went well when he ran third to Molongle Surprise in a barrier trial last week.

“They went like scalded cats in the trial and he ran on well.”

Gordy expects a strong showing from Demon Award who has a good first-up record with two wins and three placing from six starts.

“I’ve been taking him steady but he’s quite handy first-up and has a good record so he should race well,” Gordy said.