Geran stable eyes Country Cups breakthrough

By Glenn Davis

Co-trainer Corey Geran has been a regular visitor for country racing’s three big metropolitan features each year.

With his mother, Kylie, sharing the training duties in a rare mother-and-son partnership, 'Team Geran' is hoping for another chance to win its first Country Cups Challenge Final at Doomben in December.

The Gerans’ best result in the 1600 metre feature was with Vinasta, who finished second to the Raymond Williams-trained Echo Point in 2022.

The partnership also finished second with Jack Be Lucky in Tiger Legend's Battle of the Bush Final victory at Eagle Farm in 2024, while it won the Country Stampede Final with Mahbaby in 2023.

“We’ve been going to Brisbane for these country Finals for a number of years now and we’ve won a Stampede and ran second in a Battle of the Bush, but we’ve never won the Country Cups Challenge Final,” Corey Geran said. 

The Gerans hope to seek their revenge in the Country Cups Challenge Final if they can win with a two-pronged attack in a qualifying race at Dalby on Saturday.

Corey Geran owns and bred Knowitall Frank and will send him around in the qualifier against stablemate Touch Of Gracie, who he also part-owns.

“Knowitall Frank is one of the hardest horses I’ve ever trained,” Corey Geran said.

“He’s very temperamental and challenging and has been barred a few times.

“I won the Tara Cup with his mother, Chilli Beach, and decided to breed from her.”

The six-year-old Knowitall Frank has had only 21 starts for four wins and seven placings. He is coming off a 1600 metre race at the Sunshine Coast on October 2, when he beat one runner home.

“I’ve got Knowitall Frank and Touch Of Gracie trying to qualify for the Country Cups Challenge Final and there’s not much between the two,” Corey Geran said.

“They’re pretty level, but Touch Of Gracie probably has got the better form while Knowitall Frank is more consistent.

“They’ve both got their positives and negatives and Touch Of Gracie has been racing in harder company.”

Corey Geran believes the three country features conducted at Doomben and Eagle Farm each year are the jewel in the crown for country owners and trainers.

“I’ve won three Listed races so far and these country races are up there with them,” he said.