Bailey chasing first feature win with Impardoo

By Glenn Davis

Young trainer Bodine Bailey is hoping to prove the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree when he bids for his first feature win with Impardoo in the Lightning Handicap at Cannon Park on Saturday.

Bailey is the son of Cairns trainer Alwyn Bailey, who has won numerous features in Far North Queensland during a long and successful career.

The 24-year-old cut his teeth in the training game working alongside his father for almost a decade before branching out on his own last year.

With a stable of eight in work, Bailey has chalked up an impressive 24.3% strike-rate, with 25 wins from 103 starters.

While he is yet to train a winner from eight starters this season, Bailey is hopeful of a strong performance from Impardoo in the 950 metre Lightning Handicap.

Impardoo, a former Victorian, has passed through a number of stables, but has clicked with Bailey, winning seven times from 12 starts.

Bailey believes the seven-year-old races best when kept fresh, which is why he hasn’t raced since winning a Battle of the Bush qualifier at Mareeba on May 23.

“He’s been a very good horse to me,” Bailey, who works full-time as a plumber, said. 

“I got him off the old man and he came to me in great shape and in good condition.

“I’ve started him in a lot of races I thought he could win and he’s done the job so far.

“I try to keep him as fresh as possible for every start and over short distances.”

Bailey’s partner Lacey Morrison has been booked to ride Impardoo in the Lightning Handicap.

“I’ve only been training for just over 12 months and I’m hoping this could be my first feature win,” Bailey said.

“My partner, Lacey, is riding him and she’s got a great record on him.”

Morrison has ridden Impardoo 14 times during his career and has been aboard the gelding in all seven wins for Bailey.

“Lacey knows him well and has won many times on him, so she’ll be riding him again," he said. 

“He’s been in work a tick over nine weeks and I’ve had this race picked out for him for six weeks.

“If he’s going to beat these horses, this is the time.”

Impardoo was a $5,000 buy for his connections and has earned more than $153,000 during his career, which has produced 12 wins from 41 starts.

“They’re a great bunch of owners who let me do things the way I prefer,” Bailey said.

“But, if you asked me 12 months ago if he’d been lining up in the Lightning, I’d have laughed, but he’s just got better with every campaign.”