The Inflictor’s run in the $2 million Five Diamonds at Rosehill will be a deeply personal milestone for trainer and truck driver Craig Cousins.
“I’m excited, and when I get excited and nervous, he usually races well,” he said.
Cousins trains just three horses from modest stables at his mother’s house in Brisbane. By day, he delivers timber products to businesses across the city.
Despite his small operation, The Inflictor has taken him far — amassing more than $700,000 in earnings and delivering a thrill when finishing third to Transatlantic in the Prelude at Randwick.
“That was the greatest racing day of my life. To have a horse race at Randwick and run well… unbelievable,” Cousins said.
The question now is whether The Inflictor can run out the extra distance of 1800m, but jockey Alysha Collett has assured Cousins she has the plan.
“She said, ‘Craig, I know the horse. I’ll ride him to run the trip.’ That was very reassuring,” he said.
Cousins, who has been around horses his whole life, never thought he’d see his name alongside champion trainers in a feature event.
“It’s a pinch yourself moment,” he said.
“If he runs top three Saturday, I’ll be a very happy man.”
If you’re looking to back a runner in the Five Diamonds, check the Australian betting sites list for the best odds.