Geaney dreams of Cairns treble

By Glenn Davis

Michael Geaney is playing it cool but is hopeful of landing his first treble in his seven-year training career at Cairns on Thursday.

Geaney is a hobby trainer with a small team in work due to his full-time job as a refrigeration mechanic.

“I’ve never trained three winners but I’ve had a double,” Geaney said.

“I’ve got some good chances on Thursday so it would be nice to train my first treble.”

Geaney’s three runners are Bachelor’s Art in the Open Handicap (1250m), Academy Hill in the Benchmark 60 Handicap (1250m) and La Furioso in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Handicap (1250m).

All three are former tried horses who have come from other stables.

Bachelor’s Art is coming off a last start sixth behind Moreno over 1050 metres at Mackay on November 14 while Academy Hill is due for a change of luck following three straight placings including his latest second to Mystic Eyes in a 1300-metre Class Four at Mackay on November 26.

“Bachelor’s Art has been working well and he gets in well at the weights,” Geaney said.

“He’ll make his presence felt for sure but it’s a hard race with Desert Cowboy and Langhro in it.”

Bachelor’s Art will be having only his second start this campaign and will be aiming for his seventh win in 23 starts.

Geaney also is confident Academy Hill will be competitive as will La Furioso who has had only two starts for the stable since transferring from the Kylie Geran stable in Toowoomba.

“Academy Hill is on the quick back-up after his good Mackay run and he’ll be hard to beat,” Geaney said.

“He’s been a professional placegetter but he’s only missed one cheque in seven runs for me.

“La Furioso is racing well and she hit the line strongly in her only two runs since joining my stable.”

Nine-year-old Academy Hill has started 83 times but has been successful only four times with 39 frustrating placings.

Geaney was a two-horse trainer when he won the Townsville Cup in 2018 with Lady Skills and has watched his stable numbers grow to eight horses in work.