Tablelands trainer Ricky Ludwig says he’s not coming to Cooktown to run second with his leading Cup hope Lord of Light, who he expects to win this Saturday.

“It’s a bit hard to say without seeing the fields but I think he’ll be good enough to win,” he said on Monday afternoon.

“I gave him a run at Cairns (on Sunday) and he went really well. He needed that run with the jump up to 1760m in the Cooktown Cup.”

Lord of Light, a four-year-old gelding by Spill the Beans, has raced 15 times this year for five wins and three placings.

The highlight was in September when he won the Mareeba Cup (2000m) with regular stable rider Frank Edwards aboard.

“He’s a very good horse who tries every race, which is all you can ask,” Ludwig said.

“These types of races like the Mareeba and Cooktown Cups are perfect for him. He’ll win a few more races, for sure.”

Cooktown is known to favour on-pace horses, which could be an issue for Lord of Light, who usually takes a sit in his races.

“Frank knows how to ride him and he’ll just sit off the speed before making his move,” the Tolga trainer said.

“As long as you don’t leave your run too late you can win from anywhere at Cooktown.”

Ludwig also plans to bring up his new stable addition Kingmate for the maiden race.

“He’s got some ability but he’s still very green,” he said. “He had a trial at Deagon before he came up here and run third.

The horse that won the trial has since won in Brisbane so that’s a good sign. “He’s a three-year-old but he still looks like he’s two. He’ll improve on whatever he does on Saturday.”

There are six races on the card at Cooktown on Saturday, with the first jumping at 1.15pm. The Cooktown Bowls Club-sponsored Cooktown Cup is the last on the program at 5.05pm.

This year, the Cooktown Amateur Turf Club also pays tribute to legendary race caller and MC Clive Gordon, who passed away earlier in the year. Mr Gordon was a life member at Cooktown and race five is named in his honour.

This article appeared in Cape York Weekly, 1 November 2022.