3 minute read

Cairns bookmaker and motel owner Brian Jorgensen is pinning his hopes of a maiden Townsville Cup win with rising star Le Vizir during the 2023 Northern Winter Carnival.

The Gareth Smith-trained Le Vizir takes his next step towards a possible start in next month's Townsville Cup over 2000 metres when the rising six-year-old tackles the Open Handicap over 1609 metres at Cluden Park on Friday.

Formerly trained in Sydney by the father-and-son duo of Peter and Paul Snowden, Le Vizir has started four times in the state's north for two wins.

Le Vizir was a $260,000 purchase as a yearling at the Magic Millions sales in 2019 before Jorgensen's son, Chris, who also is a Cairns bookmaker and part-owner, bought him.

"Chris has a good rapport with a few of the Sydney trainers and we picked him up for $40,000 off the Snowdens," Brian said.

"We think he's more of a stayer than a sprinter that's why we're looking at the Townsville Cup with him instead of the Cleveland Bay."

Le Vizir was untroubled winning by two lengths in a 1400 metre Open Handicap at Cairns on July 11.

"He didn't beat much last start but he won as we expected," Brian said.

"This is another step up for him but it doesn't look a particularly strong race.

"He was never going to lose last start so he's entitled to be one of the favourites and if he races well, we will head to the Townsville Cup with him.

"I've owned horses for a long time but I've never won a Townsville Cup or a Cleveland Bay."

Brian believed the Jared Wehlow-trained North Afrika was his best hope of winning the Townsville Cup in the 2020 edition of the race, which was won by the John Manzelmann-trained Shiranda.

"North Afrika was an emergency and failed to gain a start," Brian said.

"Instead of running in the Townsville Cup he won the same day over the same distance and ran a second quicker than the Townsville Cup winner carrying 61.5kgs.

"He would have been on the minimum had he got a run in the Townsville Cup."

Brian has also finished second in two Cleveland Bay Handicaps and is still searching for a break through.

Le Vizir is one of four runners Brian will have running at Friday's Cluden Park.

"I've got Georgina Holt's Game Theory running as well as Redavni and Starfilly and I've already booked my flight tickets to Townsville," Brian said.

"Game Theory and Redavni have both got very good chances but Starfilly needs to do better."