'Team Rowe' hopeful of more success at Cairns

By Glenn Davis

The father-and-son training team of Trevor and Peter Rowe is hopeful a successful partnership with owner and breeder Helen Yeates will continue when Blue Kentucky Moon makes his stable debut in Cairns on Friday.

Blue Kentucky Moon, a Lacey Morrison mount, and stablemate Zi Win clash in the Open Handicap over 950 metres.

Blue Kentucky Moon started his career with Murwillumbah trainer Matthew Dunn before joining the Michael Costa and Michael Morrison stables at the Gold Coast.

He was later moved on to Rockhampton trainer Graeme Green, who retires at the end of the month, before having one start for Caloundra trainer Billy Healey. 

It was after his last start sixth in a Benchmark race at the Sunshine Coast for Healey when Trevor Rowe received a phone call out of the blue from Yeates asking if the Rowes would take him on.

“We’ve trained horses for Helen (Yeates) for many years and after his last run at Caloundra, Dad got a call from Helen asking if she could send him up to us,” co-trainer Peter Rowe said. 

“He’s a seven-year-old now and she thought it would be a lot easier for him in Cairns than in the Rocky area.

“We trained Desert Cowboy and Desert Moon for Helen and both are related to Blue Kentucky Moon’s mother, (Blue Desert Moon).

“He reminds me a lot like Desert Cowboy and I’m looking forward to seeing him race for us. They’re two of a kind. They do their work and don’t do any more than they have to.”

Due to track renovations at Cannon Park, Blue Kentucky Moon hasn’t barrier trialled and he only had his first grass hit-out on Tuesday morning.

“The grass tracks here have been closed since carnival time and the grass track finally opened on Tuesday,” Peter said.

“He’s a jump and run horse so the 950 metres should be ideal for him.”

Peter also rates Zi Win a strong hope while naming the Stephen Massingham-trained Bold Type as the main threat to his pair.

“Bold Type is the class runner and looks the one to beat but Zi Win drops a lot in weight which is always a plus,” Peter said.

'Team Rowe' will soon head to Doomben in Brisbane for the $105,000 Country Stampede Final on November 30 with Loud Noise.

“Loud Noise’s transport has been paid for after he qualified and we’re also sending Smart Image down with him,” Peter said.

“Smart Image will run the same day in either the George Moore or a Benchmark race.”