There will be little time for celebrations for trainer Darryl Hansen if veteran sprinter Perugin Thought wins the Listed Glasshouse Handicap at Caloundra.
Hansen has earned the tag as a journeyman, travelling throughout Queensland trying to win country features.
Last week he ventured to Rockhampton to land the quinella in the Newmarket Handicap (1300m) with Essington and Perugin Thought.
He was then back on the road taking a small team to Mackay, including Hussonator who won a 1500-metre Open to qualify for the Mackay Cup on Saturday week.
“I’ll be back on the road soon after the Glasshouse heading to Mackay again for the Newmarket and Cup next week,” Hansen said.
“I’m taking Mondean up for the Mackay Newmarket on Thursday and Hussonator, who has won his last five, is already there for the Mackay Cup tomorrow week.”
Hansen is so busy he is yet to fully study Perugin Thought’s opposition in Saturday’s 1400-metre Glasshouse Handicap.
“I’ve been all over the state this week with my horses and I haven’t had time to have a good look at the Glasshouse field,” Hansen said.
Hansen was last season’s premier trainer in both Townsville and Mackay in north Queensland before moving to try his luck in Brisbane.
However, he didn’t stay long at Eagle Farm before deciding to settle at Caloundra.
Hansen rates Perugin Thought a great lightweight chance on the heavy track in the Glasshouse.
The rising nine-year-old has won 11 of his 55 starts including four from 10 on heavy going.
But he’s yet to win in 13 starts on dead and slow tracks with just six placings.
“He likes wet tracks and he ran a great race in the Rocky Newmarket,” he said.
“Essington beat him but he’s a better horse.”
Hansen is unsure whether a wet track will harm Perugin Thought’s chances from barrier two.
“Barrier two isn’t perfect if the track is wet but I suppose it’s better than 16,” he said.
“He’s a great old horse and I think he’s got a great lightweight chance.”
Hansen has only trained the sprinter for two preparations after his owners transferred him from Terry Crossland in north Queensland.
“He was getting outweighted in the north so his owners wanted to try their luck with him down here and sent him to me,” he said.
Perugin Thought has won only one race at Eagle Farm in 10 starts for Hansen but has been placed on six occasions.
AAP TURF
