Cavalry Man boosts Gough’s spirits

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Lindsay Gough is riding high following the recent deeds of stable star Cavalry Man, but it will be business as usual when he heads to Eagle Farm on Wednesday.

Cavalry Man, who recently claimed the Toowoomba and Port Macquarie Cups, is headed for the $3 million Listed The Big Dance over 1600 metres at Randwick on Melbourne Cup day.

“Cavalry Man has done a great job to win the Toowoomba and Port Macquarie Cups and he’ll run next in The Big Dance on Cup day,” Gough said.

Cavalry Man is part-owned by Gough’s close friend Billy Mumford, who has enjoyed plenty of success with the Eagle Farm conditioner over the years.

As a youngster growing up in North Queensland, Gough had many dreams.

Just one of those early fantasies was to become a successful trainer, an ambition which has come true through hard work and determination.

Gough was born and raised in Townsville and had racing flowing through his veins.

His father, Barry Gough, was a former jockey turned trainer in North Queensland before coming to Brisbane to train, while his brother Darren helps him around the stable.

The Gough family had horses in their backyard at Wulguru in Townsville, so it was a logical step for a young Lindsay Gough to start training.

Fast forward to now and Gough has become an institution at Eagle Farm, where he’s trained for the past 27 years.

While he is yet to train a Group 1 champion, he went close with Rampant Lion, who finished second to Sarrera in the Doomben Cup in 2008.

Another good horse he trained was the injury-plagued Right Or Wrong, who was a seven-time winner from 40 starts, including five placings from seven attempts at Listed level.

At Eagle Farm on Wednesday, Gough will saddle a small team and is hopeful of more joy from Vermilion Kirin and Cool Panels.

The astute Gough has also nominated both horses for Thursday’s Ipswich meeting as a precaution, but favours running them at his home track.

The lightly raced six-year-old Vermilion Kirin will be chasing his fourth win in 23 starts in the Benchmark 68 Handicap over 1800 metres, while Cool Panels tackles the 1200 metre Benchmark 68 Handicap.

Vermilion Kirin had his first start since May when second to Drialle in a 1500 metre Benchmark race at Kilcoy on October 6.

“He’s going to 1800 metres, which will suit him better,” Gough said.

“He was held up for a run and would have made it interesting had he got into the clear earlier.”

Cool Panels finished last in a field of nine in his first start this campaign behind the Paula Barron-trained Music Fever in a 1200 metre Class 4 Handicap at Beaudesert last month.

“He went terrible at Beaudesert, but he went into the race a little bit too fat,” Gough said.

“He’s trialled well since, so I’m expecting him to go a lot better this time.”