The pacer burst onto the local scene with a thumping maiden win at Albion Park on November 6 in 1:50.8, which was quickly followed by a dazzling sweep of the Listed $52,000 Peak of the Creek series.
Cheerstolou scored in the heat in a time of 1:48.9 before backing it up days later to win the final in a time of 1:49.9.
His recorded profit margins were 20.6 million, 35.8 million and 7.6 million – a total of 64 million with an average of 21.3 million.
His impact was immediate and extremely dynamic.
Welcome to Brisvegas!
Of course we are curious about the speed machine. So, who is Cheerstolou?
Purchased late last year by Eddie Burchill of Sydney, after a cold call to previous connections, a deal was struck and it was soon on its way to Queensland.
Burchill then sold shares to his close friends, the father-and-son combination of Doug and Ryan Spice, and the horse landed in the Redcliffe stables of Donny and Maureen Smith.
The husband-and-wife team is based in Knight Street and trains on the track.
“He’s always had the ability. Just look at his overall record and the horses he’s competed against. He competed against the likes of The Storm Inside, Captain Hammerhead, Dangerous, Dougs Platter and Petracca. It was a calculated risk in the hope he would adapt in Queensland, I thought his speed would suit the racing pattern,” Burchill explained.
“That’s my preferred style: cold calling rather than responding to the advertised content being offered. I’ve had a lot of luck dealing with it that way.
“Look, I was hoping he would be a nice metro standard horse, but he has exceeded all expectations. Before his local debut, Donny seemed quite confident and he was perfect.”
Burchill races several horses across different stables in Queensland, including the likes of Smith, Ryan Veivers and Jonah Hutchinson.
In his first three starts, all at Albion Park, Cheerstolou was explosive and unrelenting with his powerful, hard running that left rivals gasping.
Naturally, young leader Layne Dwyer is completely in love with the exciting pacer.
“It’s so cool to be behind a class horse like him. He’s the best opportunity I’ve had so far and I’m looking forward to the next opportunity. I’ve ridden a few for Donny and he’s great to ride for as he’s quite flexible in his tactics,” said Dwyer.
“His 30-second time intervals are comparable to 28-second time intervals for other horses. He is deceptively fast.”
“During the Peak of the Creek series it was all about winning, but remember time was of the essence, especially in the heat, but he could have tested the track record that day.
“How many horses here have posted less than 1:50 miles back-to-back?”
Well, as it stands, Cheerstolou is the only horse to have achieved this feat at Albion Park, while Jimartee is the only other horse with multiple wins under 1:50 at the famous Breakfast Creek oval.
The current Albion Park track record belongs to the man himself, the $5 million earner, Leap To Fame at 1:48.6.
The arrival of Cheerstolou to Smith’s stable was perfect. Their recent success through the likes of stylish mares Uptown Beachgirl and the ill-fated Chynchilla was quickly followed by the landing of Rocket City (16 wins, $240,000) from Perth.
Cheerstolou and Rocket City (also owned by Burchill and Spice) have become a good couple and work together regularly.
“We have been lucky enough to have some nice horses come into the stable recently and although they were all very different in their own way they were great to be around, but Lou is by far the most relaxed, nothing bothers him,” said Smith.
“He has adapted to my system; he works over two miles and handles it very well. I think, thanks to the collaboration between him and Rocket, it has helped to get the best out of each of them. I’m curious to see how far he can go, because I’m sure we haven’t quite reached him yet.”
Since the Peak of the Creek series, Cheerstolou tasted defeat in Queensland for the first time when he was beaten by Ruby Rules in the $31,000 Bill Dixon in a time of 1:50.5 after starting from the inside of the second line in the 1660 metres, before bouncing back with consecutive wins at Albion Park.
Bred by Ross Gange and his Farquharson Pty Ltd (of Sting Lika Bee fame), Cheerstolou was offered at the 2021 Australian Pacing Gold Yearling Sale in Melbourne by Cavalli Superiori. The Sweet Lou – Murganella (by Bettors Delight) bay colt was beaten by the winning bid from Adam, Ben and Terry Cormack for $45,000.
His pedigree is deep. He is the first foal of his unraced mother, but close relatives include Chasin Racin (24 wins, $769,000), Border Control (40 wins, $875,000), Tinted Cloud (15 wins, $270,000) and Test Run (11 wins, $177,000).
Cheerstolou was sent to the stables of legendary trainer Peter Manning at Great Western and won six races including the 2023 SA St Leger at Globe Derby, beating subsequent multiple Albion Park winner Jamaican Rock while finishing third behind Our Vinnie and Hesalltorque in the SA Derby.
Stints with Toby Ryan (1 win), Greg Norman (1 win) and David Harris (1 win) followed prior to his sale to his current connections.
His wins were recorded at Stawell, Melton, Ballarat, Globe Derby (x 2), Ararat, Stawell, Bendigo and Albury prior to Brisbane.
Cheerstolou went winless during the 2024 season.
But a move to the warmer climate has certainly reignited the fire for Cheerstolou who won eight of his first nine starts at The Creek, with the promise of many more to come.
Who knows, a nomination for the Inter Dominion series at Albion Park in July wouldn’t be a complete shock given his efforts so far.
“We’re looking forward to the year ahead, and hopefully bigger things to come.” Burchill said.
Here’s cheering. Lou loves the Sunshine State.
By RQ media
#Albion #Parks #speed #machine