Trainer Kevin Birse is hoping to notch another win for the bush with Magic Millions Guineas hopeful Fanciful in the Listed Gold Edition Plate at Eagle Farm.Birse, 55, a former jockey who had moderate success, was a popular hoop in his riding days when based in Toowoomba in the 1970s and early 1980s.He started as an apprentice with Bill Thornton who prepared the top sprinter Donwana.Birse won two Toowoomba Cups in the 1980s aboard Lord Woden and Odd Spot and a Weetwood Handicap on Tod Minor.Succe
Trainer Kevin Birse is hoping to notch another win for the bush with Magic Millions Guineas hopeful Fanciful in the Listed Gold Edition Plate at Eagle Farm.
Birse, 55, a former jockey who had moderate success, was a popular hoop in his riding days when based in Toowoomba in the 1970s and early 1980s.
He started as an apprentice with Bill Thornton who prepared the top sprinter Donwana.
Birse won two Toowoomba Cups in the 1980s aboard Lord Woden and Odd Spot and a Weetwood Handicap on Tod Minor.
Success in the saddle later deserted Birse which forced him to move to Longreach in central Queensland where he continued riding until his career ended in 1998 after he suffered serious leg injuries in a fall at Ilfracrombe.
Birse turned to training soon after and now prepares a team of six horses at Blackall.
It's been eight years since he last came to Brisbane with Wawee, a mare who finished fourth in a 1200-metre restricted race at Eagle Farm on Boxing Day, 2002.
Birse is hoping to follow up last week's success from fellow bush trainer Todd Austin who travelled down from Barcaldine in central Queensland to win with Playtime at Eagle Farm last Saturday.
Fanciful is easily Birse's stable star and has been a real money spinner for connections after being purchased for $10,000 at the Magic Millions sales last year.
A daughter of Jet Spur, Fanciful has only started seven times but has won four races in Townsville in north Queensland.
She took her prize money to $145,900 when Birse brought her south to finish a close second to Martha's Vineyard in a 1000-metre class four at Caloundra last month.
"She was a bit unlucky at the night meeting at Caloundra," Birse said.
"She baulked going for a run in the straight which cost her the race.
"We're confident she'll run well but we don't want a heavy track if we can avoid it."
So far, Birse has got his wish with Eagle Farm rated a slow (6) on Friday although more rain is forecast.
Fanciful was ridden by Ryan Wiggins at Caloundra but comeback jockey Scott Galloway will ride the filly in the Gold Edition Plate.
Galloway put a string of injuries and setbacks behind him to land his first city winner in nine months aboard Jennabee at Doomben last week.
He spent seven months on the sidelines after crushing his left foot in the barriers at Eagle Farm in April and a further four months out following knee surgery after being tossed off another horse going to the barriers.
His comeback after fracturing his foot was delayed an extra month when Galloway twisted an ankle on the same leg carrying his son, William, down steps.