Veteran Burnie trainer Robert ‘Doc’ Gillie has been enjoying a good run recently with five-year-old Huntsville gelding Kingoftheklondike.
The pacer has had eight starts for two Launceston wins in February and has been placed in every other start.
“It has been unbelievable. He has been going well, and I think he will only get better,” said Gillie.
The pacer’s most recent win was two starts ago on 23 February, when he came from near last turning for home after settling back in the field from outside of the front row draw.
“He was dead last 30m before they got to the corner (near the 500m), and it was a huge run, there is no doubt about that.”
One issue the pacer has had when drawn well has been his gate speed, which is something that has improved.
“He wasn’t coming out of the gate too good, and we have given him a bit of practice at Burnie. He was in an open bridle, but we have put the dollys on him, and he has improved. It can make a bit of a difference when you don’t lose a bit of ground early.”
Gillie received the pacer from fellow north-west coast trainer Craig Hayes, who did give the pacer a trial back in 2022.
“He used to hang early on and had some time in and out of work, and then Craig ended up being overloaded with horses, and I had run out of horses, and I rang him up to see if he would sell me another one, and he ended up giving him to me.
Kingoftheklondike has drawn barrier two in the fourth race in Launceston on Sunday night, and the trainer is happy to keep the pacer racing in the foreseeable future.
“He will give a good account of himself on Sunday night.
“At this stage, I will race him every fortnight in this grade, and it is good prize money here in Tasmania to keep bowling along. He has won $25,000 plus his Tasbred in eight starts. He has been a good horse to me. He is very placid and good around people,” said Gillie, who intends to get the pacer qualified from a stand for next summer.
