McGuire hopes to go nuclear for Townsville Cup

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Matthew McGuire is hoping his decision to bypass last year’s Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival with Going Nuclear will be rewarded in next month’s Townsville Cup.

McGuire will get a strong indication if he’s on the right track when Going Nuclear tackles the H.L. Black Memorial at Mackay on Friday.

While McGuire believed Going Nuclear was a worthy carnival horse last year, he focused on lifting the former Victorian’s rating ahead of a bid for this year’s Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival.

Going Nuclear will be chasing a hat-trick of wins when he steps up to 1800 metres for the first time.

“He’s never been past a mile, but if he goes well, the plan is to target the Townsville Cup,” McGuire said.

The $150,000 Townsville Cup will be run over 2000 metres at Cluden Park on August 8.

Going Nuclear is coming off two wins over 1609 metres at Townsville last month and will again be ridden by apprentice Olivia Kendal.

“I had Castile run in the Townsville Cup two years ago, but he finished well back,” McGuire said.

“Hopefully we can have better luck this year with Going Nuclear.

“Fortunately, we’ve managed to get his rating up this year, so we can target the Townsville Cup so long as he pulls up well after Mackay.

“It was very tempting to have a go at the winter last year, but his rating was a bit low, so we decided to go through the grades with him.”

Going Nuclear has been to Mackay only twice, running in a Class 3 Handicap in December of 2024 and in a Benchmark race in July last year.

“He’s been to Mackay twice and wasn’t successful, but he’s in much better form this time,” McGuire said.

“He gives every indication he’ll run 1800 metres as he relaxes so well in his races.

“So, we’ll ride him quiet and hopefully he’ll hit the line strongly.

“He’s bred to get over a distance on his mother’s side.”

McGuire is not concerned Going Nuclear will be lining up for his eighth start since he returned to racing in March.

“He always races best when he goes deeper into his preparation,” he said.

McGuire has guided Going Nuclear to seven wins since he was transferred from Melbourne’s Danny O’Brien stable.

The son of Nicconi was a bargain buy at an online auction for only $8,000 after winning one of his eight starts for his previous trainer in Melbourne.

McGuire is a part-owner of the five-year-old in a syndicate which includes his parents Patrick and Michelle McGuire.