Sport
14 August, 2024
Mailman Express winner has a bright future: trainer
Mr Hanky Pank's win gave the trainer and jockey their first Mailman victory.
Normanton hobby trainer Troy Gallagher says he’s confident the winner of this year’s Mailman Express has a bright future after he thinks the three-year-old was the youngest winner in the history of the time trial event.
Mr Hanky Panky stopped the clock in a time of 11.9 seconds for the 200m dash down the straight at Buchanan Park with Mount Isa’s Courtney Gray in the saddle.
He was the only horse to beat the 12 second mark.
Gallagher’s other horse, Jabelle Ain’t She Fancy, was third, while Hudson finished second for owner/rider Lee Chappell
Despite picking up more than $7000 in prizemoney, Gallagher said it was a tempered night of celebrations.
The elation turned to devastation on Friday morning with the sudden passing of his dog Bella.
“She might have had a bit of a stroke,” Gallagher said.
“She was 13 so she’s had a very good run.”
Gallagher was speaking on the side of the road halfway between Normanton and Cloncurry and said it was a “relief” to win the Mailman after many years of trying.
“I think I’ve been coming for about 10 years and I’ve been the bridesmaid twice,” he said of his previous second placings in Mount Isa.
“I thought it was an amazing effort by the horse considering it was his first time trial event and he’s never raced under lights before.
“He’s a rising four-year-old and I don’t think there would have been a younger winner.
“He’s only had five racing starts so he’s got plenty going his way.”
Before the Mailman, Mr Hanky Panky competed in the bush sprints at Eureka Creek, where he picked up a first and a second placing.
“He’s now qualified for the big classic at Normanton, which is what we’ll be trying to win.”
Gallagher, who runs cattle with his family, which also own the butchery in Normanton, said he couldn’t travel with the horses without the support of his family.
“They are very supportive and even though it’s a hobby we do get quite competitive,” he said with a smile.
“There’s a growing circuit up in the north and it gives a lot of small communities an event to go to.”