Townsend’s racing dream taking shape

By Glenn Davis

A friendship forged on the golf course with concreter Shannon Peell was the inspiration for Ipswich farrier Jesse Townsend to start a training career.

That was four years ago and now Townsend has a stable of 15 in work at Ipswich while still plying his trade shoeing horses.

Townsend has no regrets about making the brave decision to combine training with his farrier work, which sees him rise early each morning to prepare his stable before heading off to work in his farrier business.

“I’ve known Shannon for about 20 years after we met on the golf course one day,” Townsend said. 

“He’s a mad punter, but he knew all about golf and he used to show me how to play.

“I got involved with racing with Shannon when we bought our first horse called Road To Emmaus, who won two races for us, but he was very limited.

“I’ve always wanted to train horses, so a few years ago I decided to start training and Shannon is heavily involved and has shares in four horses in my stable.”

The Townsend-prepared Victory Command is heading towards the Benchmark 58 Handicap over 2000 metres at Gatton on Friday.

He was also nominated for the Sunshine Coast on Friday, but Gatton was always the preferred venue.

Victory Command will be ridden by promising apprentice William Galloway, who is the son of Group 1-winning jockey Scott Galloway and a grandson of former top jockey Peter Cuddihy.

“He’s got a big weight at Gatton, but Will can claim three kilos, which helps a bit,” Townsend said.

Victory Command is having only his seventh start for Townsend after being bought privately from well-known owners Ron and Judy Wanless in April.

“He came to me from Barry Lockwood after he was bought privately from Ron Wanless,” Townsend said.

“He was in great order and was race fit when I first got him.

“Unfortunately, I was getting him ready for his third start when he had a mishap and it took quite a while for him to recover.”

Townsend, who is still searching for his maiden city winner, believes Victory Command is close to breaking through for the first time for the stable.

A four-time winner in 32 starts, Victory Command is coming off a last-start second to the John Smerdon-trained All About Artie in an 1800 metre Benchmark race at the Gold Coast on October 3.

“He’s firing on all cylinders at the moment and is going super,” Townsend said.

“He was caught up on the fence at the Gold Coast and by the time he got the split and got into the clear, the leader had skipped away from him.

“With a bit of luck, he should be thereabouts again.”