Ex-John Singleton galloper The Elanora set for racing comeback with new owner at Sunshine Coast

On Saturday, The Elanora will complete a remarkable racing comeback when he returns in the Listed Sunshine Coast Cup for new trainer Billy Healey and new owner Tom Hedley, the flamboyant far north Queensland property tycoon and publican.

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Formerly trained by Chris Waller, The Elanora used to wear Singleton’s famous blue and white silks and was last seen finishing seventh behind Mo’unga in the 2021 Group 1 Rosehill Guineas.

Prior to that The Elanora, from one of racing’s most successful equine families which includes More Joyous, Tuesday Joy and Sunday Joy, had showed good potential and won four of his eight starts.

Since last racing he has had two knee operations and other issues, going through Singleton’s Strawberry Hill dispersal sale last year where Sunshine Coast trainer Healey picked him up for $6000.

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“(Tom) Hedley was interested in this horse, but he wasn’t at the auction and I ended up buying him,” Healey said.

“He approached a mutual friend to see if I wanted to sell him.

“I said that Hedley could buy him off me for a bit extra, or pay what I paid for him but then I get to train him for at least a preparation.

“That’s how it happened.

“After the Rosehill Guineas, this horse came back and got lapped in a couple of trials.

“Singo owned this horse but he had a series of knee operations, on both legs.

“They thought he probably wouldn’t race again.”

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The Elanora opened at $61 on TAB to win the Sunshine Coast Cup after a long lay-off and, at one point in the last few years, he was probably those odds just to race again.

The Elanora has now firmed to be a $41 chance to post an extraordinary comeback win in the 1400m race.

Healey would be surprised if he could win on Saturday, nominating the Gold Coast Stakes over 1800m in March as his primary goal in his comeback preparation.

But he wouldn’t be surprised if the now six-year-old gelding – last seen at the races when he was three – gave a good account of himself after showing promise and zest for racing in two trials for Healey.

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“He definitely still wants to be a racehorse,” Healey said.

“He trialled the other day and I thought he trialled really well, the jockey sat back quietly on him he was pretty good late and strong through the line.

“I wanted to run him first-up on a kind surface at home for him with not a lot of weight.

“He’s obviously a little bit different to train than most given his injury history, but he seems to have reacted well to the beach and the other things we do with him.

“He has a long way to go, Saturday is really just a kick off point for him.

“He is up against a few decent horses on Saturday, I think he will still race well but he will certainly improve for the run.”

Originally published as Ex-John Singleton galloper The Elanora set for racing comeback with new owner at Sunshine Coast