Unseasonal migration has them guessing

“We’ve been getting a bit of banter since we got up here that we’ve mixed up our seasons,” Dean Cernovskis laughed.

“But the programming in the Sunshine State suited our horses, so we thought let’s go and give it a shot,” he said.

“I rang a mate in Bathurst, John Boserio, who has been going up there for the winter carnival for years, to tell him that we were planning a trip up.

“John didn’t need to be asked twice if he wanted to join us. He just said, ‘count me in, I’m coming’!”

Cernovskis and his wife Rikki, based in the NSW Southern Highlands at Gunning, near Goulburn, are campaigning a team of five horses-and they’ve had immediate success with a double.

At last week’s Albion Park meeting, Cernovskis landed the money with The Announcer and Scoob Operator. He also finished second for Boserio on Rocknroll Times and third on another of his own in Four Starzzz Forsa.

The Announcer (Badlands Hanover-Tisha Franco) started favorite in the $7790 Welcome Pelican Waters Resort Pace. Scoob Operator (Big Jim-Smooth Express (Dream Away) was also sent out as the punters’ elect and scored easily in the $8000 TAB Long May We Play Veterans Pace.

Scoob Operator is now a NR 102 and The Announcer 86 and Cernovskis is confident the Queensland system will work in their favor.

“They’re both eight-year-olds and the programming back home just wasn’t suiting them all that well. I think the Queensland Band racing system will be better for them,” Cernovskis said.

“We are again stabled at the Tweed Heads Pony Club-which has become our stomping ground the past couple of trips. About the only downside has been getting used to the humidity that’s up here at this time of year – it’s something different for us!!!”

Cernovskis said the travellers hadn’t yet decided when they would return home.

“The plan is to stay for at least three or four weeks and then we’ll take it from there. John has also brought up a team of five and there’s some nice horses among them,” he said.

“In recent years John’s been staying longer and longer each visit. He just loves the place and has made a lot of friends here over the years. I’m unsure how long he intends to stay. I’m not sure he’s even got a return address, has he?” Cernovskis joked.

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink