Will Hulbert seeks redemption in Townsville Cup after Mackay Cup disappointment

Quite literally.

Brisbane trainer Hulbert was so dark on how the race panned out, he set off on foot across some local cane fields and walked much of the way to Mackay Airport.

He wasn’t in much of a mood for company.

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Kipling’s Journey, a stable stalwart who has won almost $300,000 in prizemoney, had missed the kick and was then hunted forward but was taken on and spent too many petrol tickets to be a force in the final stages of the 2000m race.

But Hulbert, who co-trains with dad Peter, said Saturday’s $150,000 Townsville Cup (2000m) represents a strong chance for redemption.

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After competing in both the Rockhampton and Mackay Cups, and giving the Townsville Cup a crack on Saturday, it is likely Kipling’s Journey will keep winding his way north for a Cairns Cup mission later this month.

But first things first.

“After the Mackay Cup, I didn’t want to see anyone and the surcharges on Ubers were through the roof, so I just started walking towards the airport,” Hulbert said.

“I walked through a sugar cane field, felt my hamstring tightening up and arrived at the airport with my phone about to die which wasn’t ideal as it had my plane ticket on it.

“Hopefully Townsville is a better experience on Saturday.

“The horse pulled up well from his run in Mackay and he had a good gallop on Monday morning.

“We finished fourth in Rocky and fifth in Mackay so hopefully he will win the next two ones in Townsville and Cairns.”

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Ahead of the Townsville Cup, Hulbert is adamant he wants jockey Adin Thompson to seek cover on Kipling’s Journey.

He insists he doesn’t have to lead.

“Over shorter trips he leads, but once he is up to this sort of trip he needs to be ridden with cover,” Hulbert said.

“To be honest, if the horse relaxed a bit better I think he would run even further than this.”

Kipling’s Journey has drawn barrier nine in the Townsville Cup field which will have 16 starters.

Originally published as Will Hulbert seeks redemption in Townsville Cup after Mackay Cup disappointment