Leadership Spill and Cook poised to bounce back

By Glenn Davis

Tim Cook is hopeful Leadership Spill can return to winning form at Mackay on Tuesday after a stint in hospital denied the trainer a chance to test the gelding during the winter carnivals in Central and North Queensland.

Leadership Spill – an Ashley Butler mount – lines up for his second start this campaign in the Class 6 Plate over 1050 metres.

The eight-year-old had his first start in more than a year when he resumed with a close-up third to Cochrane in a 1050 metre Open Handicap at Mackay on August 22.

“I was hoping to get him ready for the winter races this year, but he had a couple of niggling injuries, so I gave him plenty of time to get over them,” Cook said.

“His problems were around the same time I was in hospital for three weeks.”

Cook, who is a farrier by trade, was hospitalised with a heart infection. 

“My bicep was detached from my elbow and I had to have an operation,” Cook said.

“I then got sick and they found I had an infection which went to my heart.”

Cook’s hospitalisation forced him to delay Leadership Spill’s return and a chance to target the winter carnival riches.

“He’s got a few feet problems and being a farrier, I wanted to shoe him myself, so I had to wait until I got out of hospital,” Cook said.

Cook, who has been training for more than 20 years, is confident Leadership Spill can return to his best form despite his Mackay statistics.

Leadership Spill is yet to win in seven starts at Mackay but has placed six times all over the sprint trips.

His second-up record also stands at no wins from six starts, but he has placed three times.

“He might be an eight-year-old, but he’s only had 29 starts,” Cook said.

“His first-up run at Mackay was super and they ran fast time.

“If he gets to the front, he’s going to be very hard to run down.”

Leadership Spill was trained by Tony Gollan early in his career and bowed a tendon while with Gold Coast trainer Lee Freedman before he found his way into Cook’s stables.

“If I can get him back to his best, I think he’s still up to winning a race again in Brisbane but in the meantime, I’m looking at aiming him for the Townsville Amateurs in November,” Cook said.

Cook rates the Jason Morgan-trained Doubting Eye as his main danger on Tuesday. 

Doubting Eye has had a win and three placings from his past six starts and is coming off a last start fourth in a 1050 metre Class 5 Handicap at Rockhampton last month.