Smart performers Sign To Inverell and Lucky Twenty Three are heading south.
Owner Dean Shannon, acting on the advice of trainer Darrel Graham has sent Sign To Inverell to Victorian trainer Andy Gath while his trotter Lucky Twenty Three is bound for the stables of Sydney trainer/driver David Thorn.
Both horses left today (Monday) bound for their new destinations.
“This is our business; we both believe this is the right move to make with both horses and we think both are headed to the right locations.” Graham said.
Sign To Inverell contested Saturday night’s Gr.1 $200,000 Queensland Pacing Championship won by Washakie while Lucky Twenty Three recently returned from Victoria to contest the Gr.2 $30,000 Darrell Alexander Memorial Trotting Series at the Gold Coast.
Lucky Twenty Three will races this Friday afternoon at TABCORP Park, Menangle.
The Art Major gelding trialled impressively last Tuesday afternoon (October 16) at Albion Park.
“Now that the features have come and gone up here, it’s best that they head south again in search of the better prizemoney on offer. Both are classy types with good scope.
Smiley (Sign To Inverell) will chase the Victorian Country Cups Circuit which offers very attractive prizemoney while the trotter will be better suited on the bigger track with strong prizemoney available.
It’s a business and Dean operates it like a business, I can’t afford to making trips away all the time with a busy stable to operate while the likes of Lanercost is nearing his return and I’ve got plenty of young stock to sort out.”
The process of selecting the new homes for the talented types was a fairly easy process.
“Dean mentioned a few conditions and I mentioned a few names and then it all sorted itself out after that, I was pretty straight forward really.
Obviously Brett (Cargill – trainer) was my first option in Victoria but Dean outlined that he already had two of his own runners on the Country Cup circuit so Andy was chosen by Dean, his stable needs no introduction.
With the trotter, Dean wanted him trained on track and Thorny boasts an outstanding record with trotters so that was a no brainer. All parties are happy and now we’re just hoping these horses can do a good job for them.”
Meanwhile, stable star Lanercost had the hopples on for the first time on Sunday morning as his return to the racetrack draws closer.
Lanercost hasn’t raced since finishing at the rear of the field behind Jaccka Clive at TABCORP Park, Melton on January 6.
“Obviously we’ve had a few little issues with him but everything is back on track and a return is imminent, I’m expecting him to trial in about 4 to 6 weeks.
He looks tremendous and I can’t fault him, we just don’t need any bad luck and then we’ll be set for another big campaign.”
Lanercost is the winner of 28 races from 38 lifetime starts including the Gr.1 Chariots Of Fire at TABCORP Park, Menangle in 2011.
