The Cairns Super Carnival roars into its penultimate act with the highly anticipated Cairns Newmarket Day at Ladbrokes Cannon Park.
Friday’s feature sprint, the $100,000 Ladbrokes Cairns Newmarket over 1400m, promises a thrilling showdown as local legends converge on the tropical turf in pursuit of glory.
Speed Legend, now trained by the ever-consistent Steve Massingham and current favourite, is back with a score to settle after falling agonisingly short in the 2024 edition of the Newmarket.
Let’s dive into the form for all nine races, the contenders, and the stories that will shape 2025 Cairns Newmarket Day.
KELLISA (8) had plenty of opportunities to break her maiden status when racing in South-East Queensland but looks better placed in the state’s north to finally register her first win.
The Trevor & Peter Rowe-trained mare found the line powerfully from well back to finish a length second over 1250m here two starts ago.
She followed that up with a similar effort over the unsuitable 1100m at Atherton where she finished strongly for a 3.3 length second.
The rise to 1500m looks ideal given the way she’s been hitting the line and that she’s at peak fitness.
| 8. Kellisa (2) 56.5kgx5822 |
BLUE STEEL (6) has been racing in cracking form this preparation for new trainer Alywn Bailey.
The son of Real Steel is on the quick back-up after a magnificent effort over this course and distance last start when storming home to win by a length with third a further three lengths away.
He’s undefeated over the Cairns 1400m having won here three starts back in impressive fashion.
Lacey Morrison retains the ride.
| 6. Blue Steel (3) 59kgx3121 |
TARONG (4) can be forgiven for finishing 6.3 lengths sixth over 1000m at Townsville last start when never getting on the track from the outside barrier.
The Les Gordy-trained gelding was very good over this course and distance the start before when resuming where he finished off strongly for a neck third.
Both those races were in open age company, so he’ll appreciate the drop back to a maiden.
Ash Butler takes the ride and should be able to land in a prominent position.
| 4. Tarong (4) 58kg25×36 |
BLUE STRATUM (7) will take great benefit from his first race in North Queensland last start after previously racing with Team McEvoy in Victoria.
Now with Steve Massingham, the Group 3 placegetter gave a good sight over 1000m at Townsville before a big weight and a solid tempo took its toll late and he finished 1.5 lengths second.
He’ll strip fitter second-up and will appreciate Ryan Wiggins replacing the 3kg claimer.
From barrier 2, he should either lead or box seat and prove hard to beat.
| 7. Blue Stratum (2) 59kgx8582 |
MOEGREEN (6) is on the quick back up after producing a performance that was full of merit over 1400m here to finish a length second.
The son of Tarzino was forced to make a long, sustained run from the back and very well nearly pulled the win off but was run down by the in form Blue Steel.
He had been racing in great form before that, including a win in this class over 1400m here.
The Cairns track lover will appreciate the drop in weight after carrying some large imposts lately.
INNOVATES (7) should be at peak fitness now following three runs back from a 17 month break.
The Rod Miller-trained gelding broke his maiden status two starts ago when proving too strong over this course and distance.
He backed that up with a top effort over 1300m at Townsville last start where he hit the line hard in the final 100m to finish a neck third.
Jackson Murphy should be able to give him the run of the race from the low draw.
| 7. Innovates (3) 59kg4×313 |
FALLGUY (3) had no luck first-up from the outside barrier but bounced back in a big way last start over 1300m at Townsville.
The Lindsay Hatch-trained gelding charged across from the outside gate to sit outside the lead before showing plenty of fight to clinch a nose victory.
He’ll strip fitter third-up and once again will need to overcome a less than ideal wide gate.
However, strong jockey Justin Huxtable takes the ride and will give him every chance.
| 3. Fallguy (9) 60.5kg62×81 |
SPEED LEGEND (2) returns to Cairns looking to redeem himself after coming within a head of winning last year’s Ladbrokes Cairns Newmarket.
The Steve Massingham-trained gelding has been racing in sublime form this preparation and looks well placed to go one better.
He kicked off this campaign with back-to-back wins here over 950m and 1250m before a gallant effort to finish a close fourth at Townsville with a massive 64.5kg.
The evergreen nine-year-old returned to the winner’s circle last start in the Cleveland Bay Handicap where he stormed home from the back to win narrowly with third nearly four lengths away.
He’ll go back from the wide gate, but Ryan Wiggins knows him well and will have him winding up strongly down the outside of the Cairns straight.
| 2. Speed Legend (13) 60.5kgx1141 |
SO YES IT IS (5) created an impression in his first start in North Queensland after previously racing with Billy Healey in the South-East corner.
Now with Fred Wieland, the five-year-old gelding was forced to work early from the wide gate over 1000m at Townsville last start and never got closer than three-wide outside the lead, however he still had the audacity to draw clear and win by 2.5 lengths.
The runner-up has since won to frank the form.
He’ll strip fitter and although he’s drawn wide again, there doesn’t look to be a great deal of speed so Sean Cormack should be able to slide across and find a handy spot.
| 5. So Yes It Is (11) 57.5kg326×1 |