Applewaite chasing rare double with small team

By Glenn Davis

Hobby trainer Leanne Applewaite has only three horses currently in work but won’t be surprised to land a rare provincial double at Rockhampton on Tuesday.

She will start the day with Tezoff in the Benchmark 65 Handicap over 1600 metres before launching a two-pronged attack with Gypsy Biker and Cavalero in the Class 6 Handicap over 1300 metres.

“I’ve only got three in work and two more in pre-training and I’ll be looking forward to a sleep in as they won’t need to go to the track this week,” Applewaite said.

Applewaite - a daughter of retired premier trainer Dave Balham – finishes work as a night fill manager for a north Rockhampton Woolworths store at around 2.00am each morning before heading straight to the stables.

“Trackwork and work around the stable is all done by 4.30 then I go home to sleep until 11 when I get ready to go back to work at the store,” she said.

Applewaite is particularly keen about the prospects of Cavalero who is having his first start since winning a 1500-metre Benchmark race at Rockhampton in early December.

Cavalero originally hailed from Victoria before being bought by her husband Bruce who races the six-year-old in partnership with their daughter, Taylor.

“I reckon Cavalero can win first-up,” Applewaite said.

“He had a barrier trial about two weeks ago and finished over the top of them.

“He’s an ex-Flemington winner who we picked up for a bargain $5,000.

“I’ve only had him for 12 months and he’s had two wins and a few placings for us so far.

“He might be rising seven but he’s been carrying on like a two-year-old around the stables and is going through his second childhood.”

Applewaite is not dismissing the hopes of Gypsy Biker despite him tailing off last behind the Tom Bourke-trained Better Than Groovy in a 1200-metre Class 6 at Callaghan Park on July 9.

“He had a big weight that day and needed the run as he was first-up,” she said.

“He was up against a lot stronger field than normal with all the Brisbane horses here for the carnival.

“I think Tezoff is also a good chance and has never been out of the money since we got him for $7,500.”

Tezoff has won three of his seven starts for Applewaite and was beaten less than two lengths when fourth in a 1500-metre Class 3 at Rockhampton on July 10.