Michelle hoping for more Queensland joy

Queensland has proved a happy hunting ground for Michelle Phillips in the past and the young Victorian reinswoman will be based there throughout the current winter harness racing carnival.

The 25-year-old won the Group 1 Redcliffe Gold Cup with Sebs Choice (Bettor’s Delight) last year and recently took out the Australian Female Drivers Championship at Albion Park.

She has teamed up with top New South Wales trainer Rickie Alchin and will lead his team of horses through the Constellations Carnival, which ends on July 22.

Phillips is based out of a stable complex near the Redcliffe track and will pick up drives throughout her stay up north.

“I’m up here for the full duration of the carnival while Rickie and his team flutter back between New South Wales and Queensland,” Phillips said.

“Obviously I was up here last year when I won the Gold Cup. I’ve known Rickie for a while through when I worked for Chris Svanosio and he used to send Tough Monarch down. I used to be a small part of Tough Monarch’s campaigns in Melbourne.

“I enjoyed it that much last year and Rickie asked me if I wanted to come up here this year.

“I was a barista and doing my own small team, so I thought I’d get away for the winter.”

Phillips spent a couple of weeks at Alchin’s barn near Menangle prior to her move to Queensland.

“I just mainly wanted to get to know the horses that were going up and I’m one for little details. I didn’t want to be in charge of horses and something go wrong, so I’d rather get to know them first before I came up,” Phillips said.

Phillips said she was unsure where she would be based after the carnival.

“I haven’t exactly made up my mind yet,” she said.

“I retired Kimora Saffi on Monday and she was the only one I had in work, so I’m kind of just going with the flow and seeing where this carnival goes.

“Home is Bendigo, so (I’m) more than likely or a possible chance of ending up back there.”

Phillips said Kimora Saffi, who provided her first win as a trainer in December last year, had been battling a range of problems and that it was the best decision to call time on her career.

“I just had a few issues leading up to leaving for Sydney and then after Sydney, and up here (in Queensland) she just became really unsound,” she said.

“It just wasn’t fair to push her when she was trying her best but was in pain a lot of the time. I couldn’t keep patching things up and waiting for them to break again.

“She’s done a terrific job for myself and Mum.”

Kimora Saffi retires with four wins from 22 starts, including four appearances at Group 1 level.

Alchin will have Tardelli in the Group 3 Redcliffe Derby on Saturday night, San Marea in the Redcliffe Oaks Consolation and Freddy Singh – to be driven by Phillips – in the final event on the card.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Tim O’Connor, for Harness Racing Victoria