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By Mark Brassel

Around 4000 properties were affected by the devastating Hawkesbury floods six months ago, but trainer Desiree Kearney did receive a small token of joy following the catastrophe.

Desiree’s team including in-form galloper Heza Gentleman had to be shifted to a different set of Hawkesbury stables to escape the floodwaters and her horses have remained there since.

Hawkesbury-based trainer Desiree Kearney. Image by Bradley Photographers

“The change in location seems to have agreed with this horse; I can’t explain it, but he seems so mentally switched on now,” Desiree said.

Desiree trains in partnership with her husband Mitch, and the pair currently has around a dozen horses in work.

Heza Gentleman is scheduled to trek around four hours north-west to compete in next Sunday’s $100,000 Dubbo & Gilgandra Toyota Gold Cup (1600m).

The gelding had won just two of his 24 starts prior to the relocation but is now in sparkling form since the move, having recorded two wins and four placings in eight appearances.

Two runs back Heza Gentleman scored a courageous Dubbo win over 1420m where he went into battle with three other horses halfway down the straight and emerged a narrow victor.

The four-year-old was then sent out at double-figure odds before an all-the-way win on the Randwick Kensington Track (1550m) for apprentice Ellen Hennessy.

“He showed a lot of fight to lead all the way at Randwick. The runner-up looked to have him at the 200 metres, but he went up another gear, pulled away and won well.

“He’s a versatile horse and loves a wet track. He’s OK on the dry but much prefers a rain-affected surface – hopefully, there’s a bit of rain about for Dubbo.”

Although Heza Gentleman has not won beyond 1550m, Kearney sees no problem with the horse running the 1600m journey of the Dubbo Cup.

“I can’t see the extra distance troubling him as he was very strong at Randwick. He’ll be on or near the pace and has thrived since; I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t run another cracking race.”

Other Dubbo Cup entries include last-start Scone winner Eiger (trained by Brett Cavanough), Parkes Cup winner Hit the Target (Stephen Jones) and four-time city winner Rule the World (Mack Griffiths).

As next Sunday’s meeting is a Racing NSW Country Showcase program, Dubbo City Turf Club will be offering $360,000 in prizemoney with a minimum $30,000 for each race.

Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions only essential personnel are allowed on course.

UPCOMING NSW COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS
Monday: Port Macquarie, Wellington
Tuesday: Scone, Queanbeyan
Thursday: Lismore
Friday: Tuncurry, Nowra
Saturday: Armidale, Griffith
Sunday: Dubbo (Cup), Coffs Harbour