Kiernan mulls Stampede tilt for Borneo

By Jordan Gerrans

Gladstone trainer Lee Kiernan will consider a tilt at the Country Stampede series later this year with veteran galloper Borneo after recently recording his second win in his last three attempts.

Borneo’s latest triumph came on his home track last Saturday as he skipped away to score by more than two lengths in the Benchmark 60 Handicap over 1000 metres.

Kiernan, who is a long-time trainer in the Gladstone area, was particularly impressed by the performance of his eight-year-old sprinter, noting it was arguably his career-best performance.

That is saying something if a horse can record a personal best after just ticking past eight years of age. 

Borneo prefers racing on the Gladstone sand compared to the grass, but the 71-year-old Kiernan says that when the local Country Stampede qualifiers roll around later in 2026, they will be on his radar.

“He's a nice horse, lovely big horse and very, always consistent,” Kiernan said.

“He's an absolute treat to ride, work and everything like that, he's pretty consistent. 

"He's good and consistent. His latest win, it was a little bit over the top for me, it was a powerful win, it really was.

“I reckon it probably was one of his better performances.

“I know he's won a couple of nice races and he ran a good second to that Han Dynasty earlier in his career one day.

“He probably should have been able to beat Han Dynasty that day, but Saturday was probably one of his best wins that I've had with him.”

Borneo started his career with the leading Melbourne camp of Mick Price and Michael Kent (Jnr) many years ago before eventually making his way to Townsville and Georgie Holt’s barn in 2024.

The son of Super One has claimed four of his six career wins since arriving at Gladstone with veteran mentor Kiernan, as well as six other minor placings.

Borneo is owned in partnership by the trainer and David Weinert, who is the president of the Gladstone Turf Club.

“David does all the research on them and consults with me a little bit,” the trainer said.

“We got him pretty cheap online and have had a bit of fun with him and a few others.

“Ever since I've got him, he's been a really good horse. He's got stronger.

“He's the type of horse that I keep him pretty fresh. 

"He doesn't cop a lot of work. In his trackwork, he can reel off some really good times on the track here.

“I'll probably just stick to Gladstone a bit with him.”

Gladstone’s Ferguson Park will host a Country Stampede qualifier in late October with Borneo, who loves racing on his home deck, set to be targeted towards the event.

He has won four of 11 at the venue, to go with six other minor placings.

After retiring from the work force and ticking past his 70^th birthday, Kiernan has wound back his stable numbers in recent years, but he is still producing quality results on the track.

The 2025-26 campaign was one of his strongest over the last decade or so.

He prepared eight winners, which is the stable’s most since the 2014-15 term, while striking at 26%.

Kiernan hasn’t boasted that strong a strike-rate since the 1995-96 season.

Also in the 2025-26 season, Kiernan’s horses placed in 70% of their starts, which is an outstanding effort with only four horses in work.

Kiernan previously had as many as nine in work earlier in his career and was crowned leading trainer in the city on a number of occasions.

Now retired from the work force, after he was employed at the Gladstone Port Authority for many years, he is able to focus his attention on his small team of horses.

Kiernan has struck up a prolific association with young apprentice rider Amie Meissner, with the team registering eight winners together dating back to August of last year.

“We had a really good season most of the time,” the trainer said.

“Young Amie comes across from Thangool once a week to give us a hand with our trackwork.

“It's been a pretty good year on the track.

“That's the way I plan it, I pick out the races, the right race and that's where I head to with my horses.”

As well as Borneo, the stable has enjoyed a strong winning run with gallopers such as Magic Valour, Fast 'N' Fancy and Keepmeinthelope.

Magic Valour is being targeted towards the Thangool Cup program in the middle of next month while Borneo will likely be back at the races on his home track the following Saturday.