Massingham targets Jewel

By Glenn Davis

The old saying “don’t count your chickens before they hatch” is foremost in the mind of Cairns trainer Stephen Massingham ahead of the QTIS Jewel qualifier at Townsville’s Cluden Park on Thursday.

Massingham, the reigning Cairns premiership-winning trainer, has given the green light for his promising filly I’lltellyouso to line up in the 1200 metre feature.

I’lltellyouso will be backing up five days after finishing second to the Trevor and Peter Rowe-trained Caldante in a 1250 metre Benchmark race at Cairns last Saturday.

The daughter of Better Than Ready is chasing a spot in next month’s QTIS Jewel Final for three-year-olds at the Gold Coast.

While Massingham is confident his filly is up to the challenge, he isn’t looking past Thursday’s assignment and will leave the decision with senior part-owner Craig Duffy whether to make the long trip to the Gold Coast.

“She’s a real little trier and races on the speed,” Massingham said.

“So long as she backs up, I think she’ll be hard to beat again.

“She handled the heavy track well on Saturday and she pulled up well so I can’t see why she won’t back up.”

Massingham has never had a runner in a QTIS Jewel Final and has only ever ventured to the state’s South East twice in the past.

He sent his former star galloper The Harrovian to Brisbane in 2020, winning at Eagle Farm and Doomben before he was transferred to the Toby and Trent Edmonds stable.

Full Recognition was sent to Brisbane in May last year for two starts at the Sunshine Coast and Doomben.

I’lltellyouso has only had five starts for two wins and a second for Massingham since he was transferred from Toowoomba trainer Michael Nolan.

“I’m a great believer in not counting chickens before they hatch, so I’m not looking past Thursday,” Massingham said.

“She’s well placed dropping to her own age after a Benchmark 62 and the set weights suits her after she had to give away three kilos to the winner on Saturday.

“Her main owner, Craig Duffy, lives in Brisbane and has been very loyal and I think the only time he's missed seeing her race was on the weekend.

“If she qualifies for the Final, I’ll let him have the last say whether she goes down for it.”

Massingham has trained only one other horse for Duffy.

“I trained one called I'lltellyougo who I got off Clint Taylor and she won three straight last year before she went back to Brisbane to race,” Massingham said.