Michael Cahill gets top ride for Page

Michael Cahill will ride the Helen Page-trained two-year-old Brinkmanship at the Gold Coast.

Luke Dittman’s decision to ride Rains Aplenty has opened the door for Michael Cahill to reunite with trainer Helen Page on promising two-year-old Brinkmanship at the Gold Coast.

Page had originally hoped to book Dittman for Brinkmanship who won a Gold Coast trial three weeks ago, but he was already committed to Rains Aplenty in Saturday’s Two-Year-Old Handicap (900m).

“Luke is tied up with Rains Aplenty’s trainer John Zielke so I understand he has a commitment to them,” Page said.

“Michael has ridden a lot for me over the years and it good to a have him back on one for us.”

Brinkmanship is by first season sire Spirit Of Boom who is only the third Queensland-trained Group One winner to go to stud in the state in the past 20 years.

He is out of Tiyatro making him a half brother to the stakes-performed filly Tiyatraloni.

Page was keen to get a horse by Spirit Of Boom and chased Brinkmanship at the Magic Millions March Sale.

“We like to get QTIS bonus registered horses and there aren’t many at the January sales. It was why we waited,” Page said.

“He wasn’t very big to start off but he has grown and matured. He has plenty of pace out of the gates and I am hoping to he can live up to his trial.”

Brinkmanship is raced by a group of women making him eligible for the $500,000 in bonus payments in the Magic Millions Classic in January.

“He is also eligible for the new improved bonus races at the March QTIS Gold Coast meeting,” Page said.

“It is good we are starting to get some big prize money days up here. We need something.”

There has been rain about the Gold Coast but nowhere the amount which has fallen in other parts of the state.

“It is good to have a softer track for the babies. The ground has been rock-hard everywhere of late,” Page said.

Rains Aplenty is the early $1.75 favourite ahead of Brinkmanship at $2.50.