Cover image courtesy of Grant Peters (Trackside Photography)
Truck driver/trainer Craig Cousins is loving the journey he’s on with The Inflictor (Under The Louvre) at the moment, and he believes the fairytale story can continue as part of some belated New Years celebrations.
That is when he will look to start his talented 4-year-old at Benchmark 88-level in Sydney for the first time on January 4.
He can certainly be competitive after his stunning 0.39l win in the $300,000 The Star Gateway over 1400 metres at Eagle Farm on Saturday, with Cejay Graham in the saddle.
Starting as a $21 outsider, the gelding showed incredible gutsiness to hold off runner-up and $5 chance Blazing Harry (Harry Angel) (Ire) for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr on the straight in Soft 5 conditions.
It was The Inflictor’s fifth and second consecutive win, both on a Soft 5 and now from 17 starts.
And Cousins now thinks he can give his opponents a run for their money in the highly-lucrative and cutthroat world of Sydney racing.
“I might head down about January (4) in Sydney. There’s a nice Benchmark 88 for him,” Cousins told The Thoroughbred Report.
“I’ll see what they rate him after (Saturday), but I’d like to go down there and tick it off my bucket list.
“I know he won’t disgrace himself. And if it happens to storm on the Friday night, I know he can handle a Heavy 10.”
“I’ll see what they rate him (The Inflictor) after (Saturday), but I’d like to go down there (Sydney) and tick it off my bucket list... And if it happens to storm on the Friday night, I know he can handle a Heavy 10.” - Craig Cousins
Despite the big winning odds and an emotional Cousins saying it was probably the biggest day of his life after the win on Saturday, he said he always knew The Inflictor would live up to his name.
“When I nominated him and I saw the initial noms, I thought ‘I’m a chance of winning this’,” he said.
“And when they extended it (the field), I thought ‘it might get a bit hairy now’ or a bit harder. But I never wavered – I couldn’t see him getting beaten.”
Cousins: 'Always time for a beer'
Adding to the fairytale story of The Inflictor’s stunning win on Saturday was the fact that Cousins is also a truck driver in order to earn his living.
Somehow, he also has the time to enjoy a beer.
The affable trainer had to prepare The Inflictor’s stablemate and 3-year-old filly Kouklitsa (Love Conquers All) to run in a Maiden H. on the Sunshine Coast on Sunday where she finished fifth.
But he said he’d finally enjoy a well-deserved ale afterwards.
Cejay Graham and Craig Cousins | Image courtesy of Grant Peters (Trackside Photography)
“I’m at the races now with his stablemate. I haven’t celebrated, really,” Cousins said on Sunday afternoon.
“People who know me know that I don’t mind a drink – I love a XXXX Gold.
“But that’s the profession. I think I’ll have a couple of quiet ones tonight, to be honest.
“I enjoy it. Sometimes I think about it (the long hours working two jobs), but at the end of the day it’s enjoyable.
“I do it for the animal. If you make a buck out of it, that’s great. But I love the animals.
“I do it for the animal. If you make a buck out of it, that’s great. But I love the animals.” - Craig Cousins
“I turned 60 last Saturday, so I’ve had a good week.”
Cousins works seven days a week where he will get up at 3.15am to train his horses, then clock in as a truckie all before the crack of dawn.
So it is no wonder that looking after two horses in work is more than enough for him at this point in time.
“It’s seven days a week. I’m up a 3.15 getting in work before 5, when I’ve got enough time to settle down before going to work,” he said.
“It’s seven days a week. I’m up a 3.15 getting in work before 5, when I’ve got enough time to settle down before going to work. And then I’m into it again in the afternoon.” - Craig Cousins
“And then I’m into it again in the afternoon. That was why I said (on Saturday) that two or three does me.
“Three would be a bit of work. If I had two of him (The Inflictor) I wouldn’t be driving a truck.”
The Inflictor breaks down rivals
Cousins said The Inflictor simply hates losing, which was why he showed such tenacity in holding off Blazing Harry on the Eagle Farm straight on Saturday.
By 2016 G1 Stradbroke H. winner Under The Louvre and out of now-broodmare Zietta (Bernardini {USA}) who won two of three starts, The Inflictor has a winning pedigree.
He is the sole winner from two to race for Zietta. His grandam Sharna Myst (Lion Hunter) was stakes-placed in the Ottawa S., with The Inflictor's total prizemoney earnings now at $394,500.
“He doesn’t like them getting past him, put it that way. And I don’t know whether it’s him trying or just his character,” Cousins said.
“He doesn’t like them getting past him, put it that way. And I don’t know whether it’s him trying or just his character.” - Craig Cousins
“On trackwork whether they run 33 or 36 (seconds), he’s always a half-head or a longneck in front.
“His mum was a pretty fair racehorse, too. (The late, former leading Queensland and Sydney trainer/breeder Ken) ‘Tubby’ Turner’s son is the main owner in the horse.
“Tubby’s mares are always well-bred. There’s always a good line there. I’m not right into breeding I’ll be honest, but I knew when I took a few of these horses on that they had stout dam lines.”
“Tubby’s (Ken Turner) mares are always well-bred. There’s always a good line there. I’m not right into breeding I’ll be honest, but I knew when I took a few of these horses on that they had stout dam lines.” - Craig Cousins
The Inflictor fairytale could well continue if Cousins takes him to Sydney and he competes strongly in what would be a step up in class.
That is because Saturday’s win gave him a ticket into the $3 million G1 Stradbroke H. at Eagle Farm on June 14 next year.
Cousins knows just to run well in the elite-level feature race which The Inflictor’s sire won would be one heck of an achievement, but it’s not the furthest thing in his mind after the weekend.
Under The Louvre | Image courtesy of Grandview Thoroughbreds
“The way he’s been going, I think if I give him a break – he’s still got to grow a little bit,” he said.
“And if he can find another couple of lengths, he’ll definitely be in the Stradbroke.
“I think it’s everyone’s dream to be in it. You know when you get a good horse.
“Sometimes people think you don’t know much about training, but I believe I do. And I knew he had ability from the start.
“He had a few little issues, but one thing that stood out for me was he tried his guts out.
“He (The Inflictor) had a few little issues, but one thing that stood out for me was he tried his guts out.” - Craig Cousins
“That’s half the battle, as far as I’m concerned.”
