Dash For Cash iron-horse Ladretto landed his second $100,000 Cleveland Bay Hcp (1300m) in the last three years at Townsville on Saturday.

Ladretto won the Cleveland Bay in 2013 but dodged the feature sprint of the season last year to run in the Townsville Cup.  Local trainer Kerry Baumann has done a magnificent job with the gelding who has won 11 of his 17 starts since transferring from Victoria.

He was a resounding choice as Townsville’s Horse of the Year in 2013.

Ladretto (7g Dash For Cash – Shu’ Shu’ Lara by Shagny) had won a Mornington maiden but was a handful and refused to settle for Jason Warren.  “He had a back problem but my wife Rachael and I give him a lot of personal attention,” Baumann recalled.  “He grew in confidence and is racing better than ever.”

Baumann was a harness trainer-driver in Brisbane before moving north in 1988.  He operates a pump business in Townsville and trains a small team as a hobby.

His Cleveland Bay winner is by Scenic Lodge sire Dash For Cash from a half-sister to Steel Phoenix (Nassipour), a stakes races in Melbourne and Sydney for trainers Theo Howe and John Size.

Dash For Cash started the Cleveland Bay meeting with fast-finishing maiden winner Gainsford who was racing first-up in Queensland for local trainer Owen Cullen.

Scenic Lodge stands Dash For Cash for a $4,400 (inc gst) fee.

Rachael Baumann with Ladretto (left) and stablemate Strato Mostro