Gus Gould chasing Eagle Farm win with Leaglese

By Glenn Davis

Rugby League guru Phil “Gus” Gould and Gold Coast trainer Bryan Guy haven’t shared in much luck together on the racetrack but that could be about to change with promising filly Leaglese at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Leaglese is closely related to Guy’s former Queensland Derby winner Eagle Way and will be ridden by Jim Byrne in the 1000-metre QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap.

“Her mother Sweet Eagle is a half-sister to Eagle Way, who I trained to win a Queensland Derby before he went to Hong Kong,” Guy said.

“I’ve known Gus a long time, ever since he was playing for Canterbury Bankstown in Sydney and I’ve trained a couple of horses for him over the years with the odd winner.”

Leaglese was a $30,000 buy at the Adelaide Magic Millions sales and is yet to place in two starts.

However, Guy believes the daughter of Star Witness could measure up to the Queensland Winter Carnival and expects a strong showing at her third race start.

Leaglese was spelled after failing at her first race start when she finished sixth to the Gillian Henrich-trained True Moonlight at Doomben in October.

She then resumed after a short break to beat one runner home when sixth to Mishani Delight over 1200 metres at Eagle Farm on February 6.

“She’s drawn barrier one this time which will be a big help,” Guy said.

“She got back last time and she was the only horse in the race throwing up sand.

“From the alley she’ll go a lot better and I’m expecting her to be very competitive.”

Guy picked up Leaglese for a bargain price after originally expecting to pay much more for her at the Adelaide Magic Millions sales.

If Leaglese win or runs well, Guy will target the Brisbane winter carnival races with her.

“We thought she’d go for a lot more than $30,000 and her full brother went through the Inglis sale for $140,000,” Guy said.

“She’s bred to go a lot further and if she races well, I’ll look at some of the bigger winter races with her.”

Gould is well-known in rugby league circles after playing 104 first grades games with Sydney clubs Penrith, Newton and Canterbury Bankstown before finishing his career with South Sydney in 1986.

He later went on to coach successfully winning two premierships with Canterbury (1988) and Penrith (1991) in his first five seasons before coaching NSW to four State Of Origin series wins in five years.

After retiring from coaching, Gould turned his hand to the media where he has been a long-time broadcaster with Channel 9, as well as a newspaper columnist and club administrator.