McConachy forecasts big improvement from Sunnycoast

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Jamie McConachy is hopeful talented four-year-old Sunnycoast can bounce back from a horror first-up defeat when the gelding lines up at Mackay on Tuesday.

Sunnycoast will be chasing win number eight at his 15th start when he tackles the Open Handicap over 1200 metres.

The Rockhampton sprinter was a betting wobbler, easing from $3 to $7, when he tailed off last in a field of seven at his last appearance in a 1050 metre Open Handicap at Rockhampton on March 15.

A son of Sebring Sun, Sunnycoast had to be bustled forward in the early stages to lead but was trapped three wide most of the way before tiring late and eased down over the concluding stages.

However, McConachy revealed a subsequent blood test found Sunnycoast was suffering from an infection.

“His first run back was disappointing so I got a blood test done which revealed he had an infection in his kidney and liver,” McConachy said.

“He’s finished a course of antibiotics and he’s fine now and is ready to go.”

McConachy expects a sharp improvement from Sunnycoast on a wet track despite drawing awkwardly in barrier seven.

Sunnycoast has a strong second-up record with three wins from four attempts.

“He likes the sting out of the ground and he likes racing at Mackay,” McConachy said.

“He’s drawn a bit wide but he should lead and get into his normal rhythm in front.”

A former coal miner, McConachy hasn’t ruled out aiming Sunnycoast for the Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival.

“The Capricornia Yearling Sale race for three and four-year-olds is coming up in April so he’ll head to that first and I'll take it race by race after that,” McConachy said.

McConachy worked in the mines for about 10 years at Blackwater in Central Queensland and trained as a hobby before taking on training full-time.

“I was only a hobby trainer in those days but training has always been in the blood so I eventually took it up full-time in Rockhampton,” McConachy said.

"I worked in the mines for about 10 years at Blackwater after I left Toowoomba and I started training five horses while still working in the mines."