by Duane Ranger (courtesy of Redcliffe Paceway)
From the late ‘Incognito’s’ grey cloud comes a silver lining in the form of a former Victorian pacer named after Aussie Rules footballer, Travis Boak.
Owners, Michael and Shondell Thirgood, have no affiliation with Port Adelaide and the club’s former captain, Boak, who has played a club record 358 matches for the team nicknamed ‘The Power’.
But the Scarborough couple are more than grateful that they now have another Greg Franklin-trained winner, so soon after Incognito’s death at Albion Park on March 1 this year. Sadly, he was the $1.80 favourite in race seven that day.
“I didn’t even know who Travis Boak was until the horse (Boak) got here. We bought him off Garry Colinson, and he came to us in late March already named. We like the Lions, but our family is probably more into Union and League than AFL. Boak arrived from Dubbo after our previous horse, Incognito, who was also trained by Greg, died on the race-track.
“That was so sad. He was such a lovely pacer, and was starting to reach his peak, but Greg had always liked Boak from afar, and when Luke (son) was competing in the Miracle Mile (March 9) in Sydney, I brought him back with me. We were on the lookout for another horse. Mick and I had looked at a couple earlier, and then approached the owner about Boak – and bought him from Garry,” Thirgood (Shondell) said.
“He’s a real credit to Greg. Nathan (Dawson) also drove him a treat out in front, because he’s not a very easy horse to drive,” she added.
Boak, who was having just his fifth start in the Sunshine State, led all the way from gate one in last Wednesday’s (June 5) seventh event at Redcliffe Paceway – the Pelican Waters Resort NR40-43 Pace. He was the $2.10 favourite.
All-up the Village Jolt gelding has now won seven of his 67 starts since making his debut at Bendigo in February 2020. He’s also placed eight times ($31,353) and recorded a personal best 1:57.5 mile-rate when triumphant at Shepparton on June 27 last year. On Wednesday Boak recorded a 2:00.3-mile rate for the 1,780m mobile.
Boak was unplaced in a Dubbo trial on February 20, and then on April 18, he finished third in a trial at Redcliffe Paceway. His Queensland form-line reads 87831.
The 7-year-old’s Redcliffe-based trainer, Franklin, believed the naturally gaited pacer, could win a few more races despite having been “a bit of a handful” since arriving in Queensland from Dubbo three months ago.
“He’s a work in progress who wears a lot of gear. He’s a very fast horse who thinks every race is a Trot Rods sprint. He can be a bit of a handful because he gets very excited and pulls hard. I’ve put a pulling bit (Dutch gag) on him as well as an anti-choking device, which sits just under his neck.
“He also wears an air hood with plugs. It all seems to be working because in the last couple of races he’s really turned the corner and started to enjoy living in Queensland. He won three in a row down south for Shelbourne (Victoria) trainer, Kate Hargreaves. They were at Maryborough (December 15, 2022), Horsham (December 23, 2022), and Ballarat (January 6, 2023),” Franklin said.
“He’s got a beautiful gait and I think the public knew he was going to go close on Wednesday, because they backed him into favourite after seeing his placing the start before. He’s on the way up, and will win more races, I’m almost sure of that,” Franklin said.
“He’s a nice replacement for Incognito, who had a heart attack and fell in his last race. That was devastating,” he added.
Incognito won eight of his 98 starts for an also placed 21 times ($86,725). The 6-year-old Heston Blue Chip bay gelding also recorded a slick 1:54 mile rate.
Dawson also drove that Thirgood-owned gelding when he won his last race at ‘The Creek’ as the $1.30 favourite on February 9 this year, as well as at his only other Queensland victory at the same venue on December 22, 2023.
“It was very sad to lose a horse who was just starting to make his presence felt. But the death also brought a lot of happiness. I received phone calls from so many people the day he died. Calls from people like Grant Dixon and also calls from people I didn’t even know.
“The phone never stopped. This harness racing game has some wonderful people in it. They are the best people in the world. I always knew that, but after Incognito passed away, I realise it even more so now. I felt their kindness first-hand and it was very humbling,” 71-year-old Franklin said.
The Thirgoods bought Incognito from Menangle Park trainer Darren Binskin in September last year and only had 11 starts with him for three wins, four placings, and two fourths.
“Hopefully Boak will do a progressive job for Greg. However, our number one horse that has paid his way since day one is Stormtide. He’s our star, and was originally from Victoria too (David Aiken – Avenal), but we got him off John McMullen in December 2022,” Thirgood said.
However, she admits her family would never have got involved in harness racing a couple of years ago had it not been for the youngest of their three children, 14-year-old Luke.
“I’m a secondary school teacher at Clontarf State High School, but Luke has been obsessed by horses for as long as we can remember. I was born in Sydney and my father trained horses at Harold Park, but I was only three when my parents separated and we moved to Queensland.
“Perhaps it’s in Luke’s blood, but he’s got us all hooked now. He and Macy, who also works at the stables, drove the Mini Trotters for several years. He turns 15 next month and sadly he and 16-year-old, Macey, have now retired from successful Mini Trots careers.
“All they have ever wanted to do is work with horses, and they do that with Greg and Donny Smith. Luke is six foot one now and growing, so I’m not sure if he will pursue it as a career later on or not. He said he would like to do a trade, but all he’s focused on is working horses and getting his trials licence next month and then his driving licence when he’s 16.
“Macy is also working towards getting her licence as well. But no matter what happens it’s school first. Education is important even though Luke and Macey spend most of their time at the Franklin and Smith stables, which are both in Redcliffe,” Thirgood said.
“We are all very good friends – with Greg training Boak, and Donny, Stormtide. Rickie Alchin also has our 2-year-old unraced American ideal filly named Miss Aloha. We also have a Stay Hungry yearling colt – so blame Luke for all this,” 45-year-old Thirgood joked.
Thirgood, who teaches predominantly Years 7 to 9 English, is also the Acting Head Of Specialist Education Services at Clontarf High (HOSES). The Thirgoods have three children. Their eldest is six foot six Ryan (19), who is in the Army.
“When Luke came to us wanting to drive mini trotters as a 5-year-old. We had no gear, no horse, no sulky, no horse float, and now a few years later we have four horses and now have two budding young drivers on our hands.
“We just hope Boak can keep going on with it, but you never know what Boak is going to turn up. He might have a few different personalities, but he’s still a big strong boy with a lot of potential,” Redcliffe State High School-educated Thirgood said.
Footnote: Luke also has a promising cricketer career ahead of him. He has the height, action, and ability to go a long way as a quick bowler in the sport. Can’t wait to coach you in the St Patrick’s 10A’s next year Luke.
