Luna Missile broke his maiden in fine style yesterday at Aquis Park at the Gold Coast Turf Club in winning the Simon Says Landscaping Maiden Handicap. The well-related son of Smart Missile was sent out a well-backed favorite after an impressive barrier trial victory seven days earlier. Luna Missile immediately took control of the race under replacement rider Bridget Grylls and showed a good turn of foot at the top of the straight to race away from his nearest rivals to score an easy victory in impressive time.
Co Trainer Bryan Guy who was on hand for the race was a relieved man explaining how frustrating the last twelve months have been "This time last year we thought he was a Magic Millions horse but things just haven't gone right, at his first start he slipped out of the barriers and hurt his back so he went to the paddock. Then at his second start he went in the wind so it was an operation and off to the paddock again but thankfully it all looks to have worked out well and he has come back great and finally showed the big group of owners what we have been seeing in his track work. It's great for the owners who have been rewarded for their patience".
Winning replacement rider Bridget Grylls was somewhat surprised to have picked up the ride after Matthew McGuren failed to arrive on track in time for the race "That was a pleasant surprise to pick up a ride like that, he is a nice horse with a good turn of foot and from the time I found the front soon after jumping he was never going to get beat. I think Bryan, Daniel and the team of owners have got a nice horse".
Luna Missile is owned by a big group of owners under the Wylie Dalziel Roy Higgins Syndications banner with many of the owners being existing Guy Stable clients and co trainer Daniel Guy was thankful for their loyalty "It's great to see Luna win yesterday for the owners they deserved it, many of whom were existing stable clients so it's a good mix of new and old. It's also a big result for the people behind the scenes from our vet Dr Charlie McCormack who has done a great job with this horse to his regular work rider Kris who has taught this horse to settle and go through his gears which was evident in the straight yesterday".