Wells stable red-hot ahead of Group 1 debut

It has already been a fortnight for the history books at the small Marburg harness racing stable of Ron Wells and it might still get a little bit better for the veteran horseman.

A gallops man for much of his life in Tasmania and in the Sunshine State, the 66-year-old has turned his hand to the Standardbreds over the last decade.

He first prepared a winner in the pacing and trotting code back in the 2015-16 campaign.

And, over the last ten days, he has enjoyed his most prolific run of form since he began in the sport.

Ron has three winners to his name since August 7th with three other minor placings in that period of time, as well.

The Wells barn is absolutely flying with their five horses in work.

It might just go up again another level on Saturday evening when the trainer has his maiden starter in a Group 1 event at Albion Park.

Ron has qualified emerging stable star Cosmic Flyer (Mr Feelgood) for the two-year-old edition of the QBRED Triad Final for the boys.

With three victories to Cosmic Flyer’s name from five race day appearances, the gelding is not without a chance either on the big stage.

“It is good just to get there,” the veteran trainer said.

“I could not believe it really.

“As I have been in thoroughbreds all my life and I have only ever been in Listed races but never into a race like a Group 1.”

Ron and his entire family have been around the racing industry for all their lives, just more so the gallopers than the harness horses.

Wells’ father Bill was a top thoroughbred trainer on the Apple Isle.

Wells’ wife Shirley also held a trainers licence and prepared a team from Tasmania before they moved north and lobbed in Longreach.

The husband-and-wife team would eventually relocate to Marburg and get involved with harness racing through connection to the sport with their daughter Whitney.

They now can boast they have a Group 1 starter in their barn with Cosmic Flyer set for the biggest test of his young career yet.

Cosmic Flyer held on for a narrow victory in the first of the colts and geldings heats earlier this month.

Sent to the front by driver Adam Richardson, Cosmic Flyer was still a little green in the run to the judge, shifting up the track, but was able to hold out the Grant Dixon-trained Gem Punter Pete.

Cosmic Flyer is a son of broodmare Goodtime Stride who won 22 races before retiring in early 2019.

Whitney Gorman bred and part-owns the gelding with her parents.

Ron has been blown away with the way the two-year-old has progressed in his short racing career despite still being a little immature.

“I never expected to be able to get to a Group 1 with a horse like him, he is better than I ever thought he was going to be,” Ron said.

“From his first start, I knew he was going to be good as he led all the way and won in good time.

“For a green learning horse, that was great.

“He is feeling so well the little bugger, he is improving every day.”

The voice of harness racing in Queensland Chris Barsby was taken by the gelding’s second career victory, declaring in the call that Cosmic Flyer took over the event like his rivals were “nailed to the rail”.

The Wells’ are hopeful of keeping the ball rolling with Goodtime Stride’s progeny.

They have an eight-month-old that has just been weaned from Ohoka Punter while she is in foal again to champion Queensland pacer Colt Thirty One.

It is a team effort at the Wells stable with Ron, Shirley and Whitney, among others, all involved in getting the five strong barn ready for the races.

Cosmic Flyer is rated as a $5.50 hope with the bookmakers for Saturday night’s event as of Thursday afternoon.

With Richardson in the bike, Cosmic Flyer will commence from three, which his trainer thinks is a great location to begin from.

“The draw suits us, we can go one way or the other,” he said.

“It does not worry me where he goes as he has shown he can lead all the way and also in his first win at Albion, he came from last in the straight.

“He can run a couple of good quarters and come home strong. I have no concerns with the draw at all.”

Richardson has been in form of late, driving in three victories since Tuesday of this week.

Saturday night’s program from Albion Park is branded ‘QStars night’ with all races exclusively for QBRED runners.

Four Group 1 events will be held with the running of the Triad Finals for the two-year-old and three-year-old pacers for each sex.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Jordan Gerrans, for Racing Queensland