Mount Isa trainer Jay Morris says a trip to Birdsville could be on the cards for Don’t Despair after the gelding was an impressive first-up winner at Julia Creek on Saturday.

The five-year-old led all of the way in the Benchmark 65 over 1350m with Jason Hoopert in the saddle.

Morris, who is also president of the Mount Isa Race Club, said the former Brisbane horse was purchased by the club and sold at auction at the cocktail party prior to the Mount Isa Cup.

“As a committee, we were talking about how to create a bit more interest in the Cup weekend,” he said.

“I’ve been to a few functions and Calcuttas and I remember at Alice Springs they used to buy some yearlings and auction them off at the casino on their Cup weekend.

“Steve (Clauson) is on the committee and is always looking at horse auctions so we told him to keep an eye out for a horse the club could buy.”

Mick Tully purchased it for $15,500 and has since syndicated shares to other North West locals, including Mal MacRae, Tammy Parry, Sean Wade, Holly Robertson, Kieran Tully and Clauson.

“It was a good fundraiser for the club and hopefully we can do it again next year,” Morris told North West Weekly.

“If the horse wins a few races I’m sure the bidding will be even stronger.”

Don’t Despair arrived in May and had been ticking over nicely at Buchanan Park, Morris said.

“He was probably a week and a half short of where I wanted him to be (for his first run) but I wasn’t worried about starting him over 1350m first-up,” the trainer said.

“I’ve never been shy running them over a distance first-up if they can run that far. This horse has run over 2200m before.

“I told (Hoopert) to be aggressive out of the gates and get him to the front because it was his first time on the dirt.

“When they are carrying 62kg you want them to be rolling, rather than sit-sprinting.”

Morris said he was impressed with the win, with the $2.20 equal favourite holding out Snippy Strategic ($12) by three-quarters of a length, with co-favourite Magnate third.

“There’s a race for him at Mount Isa over 1450m on Mailman Express day and if he runs well there he could be going to Birdsville,” Morris said.

“He’s going to improve a lot off that run.”

Don’t Despair had 23 starts in the south-east for Brisbane-based trainers Steven O’Dea and Matthew Hoysted, returning six wins and two placings.

• Morris trained a double on the card when Cato ($2) made it back-to-back wins in the Open Handicap (1200m).

Ridden to perfection by Jeffrey Felix, Cato took a sit behind the speed before letting down nicely to win by one and a quarter lengths.

“He’s a nice horse but we’ll keep him here locally and try and win as many races here as we can,” Morris said.

“The best thing about him is that he can win here on the sand (at Mount Isa) and go to the dirt tracks and take a sit.

“You don’t get a lot of horses that like both types so that’s a big advantage for him.”

• Local trainer Tanya Parry scored a treble at her home track.

Elusive Reward ($12) kicked off the day with a victory in the Maiden Plate (1200m) with Felix in the saddle.

Parry combined with Dan Ballard in the Class 2 Handicap (1100m) to win with Sneaky Truths ($3.60). Her treble was completed when Keith Ballard piloted Injustice ($7) to victory in the Benchmark 45 Handicap (1350m).

Parry trained the first three across the line in that race.

• Denise Ballard trained the other winner on the program with son Dan riding Latin Dayz ($1.90) to a comfortable win in the Benchmark 60 Handicap (1200m).

Runner-up in the race was stablemate Wicked Willy ($3), ridden by Keith Ballard.

This article appeared in North West Weekly, 28 July 2022.