Talk about unlocking the talent. The transformation of former Victorian pacer Cheerstolou since being switched to the Sunshine State has been remarkable.
The pacer burst onto the local scene with a thumping first-up triumph at Albion Park on November 6 in 1:50.8, which was quickly followed by an eye-popping 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-up days later to take the final in a time of 1:49.9.
His winning margins recorded were 20.6m, 35.8m and 7.6m – a total of 64m with an average of 21.3m.
His impact was immediate and utterly dynamic.
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Naturally, we’re curious to know more about the speed machine. So, who is Cheerstolou?
Purchased late last year by Sydney-based Eddie Burchill following a cold call to previous connections, a deal was struck and he was quickly on his way to Queensland.
Burchill then sold shares to his good friends, father-and-son combination of Doug and Ryan Spice, and the horse landed at the Redcliffe stables of Donny and Maureen Smith.
The husband-and-wife team are based at Knight Street and train on the track.
“He’s always had the ability. Just look at his overall record and the horses he’s competed against. He took on the likes of The Storm Inside, Captain Hammerhead, Dangerous, Dougs Platter and Petracca, among others. It was a calculated risk hoping that he would adapt in Queensland, I thought his speed would match the racing pattern,” Burchill explained.
“That’s my preferred style - cold calling rather than responding to the advertised content that’s offered. I’ve had some good luck dealing that way.
"Look, I was hopeful he would become a nice metro standard horse, but he’s exceeded all expectations. Prior to his local debut, Donny seemed quite confident and he was spot on.”
Burchill races several horses spread throughout several stables in Queensland including Smith, Ryan Veivers and Jonah Hutchinson among others.
During his first three starts, all at Albion Park, Cheerstolou was explosive and unrelenting with his powerful hard running that simply left rivals gasping.
Naturally, young reinsman Layne Dwyer is totally enamoured with the exciting pacer.
“It’s so cool to sit behind a class horse like him. He’s the best opportunity I’ve had to date and I look forward to the next opportunity. I’ve driven a few for Donny and he’s great to drive for because he’s quite flexible with his tactics,” Dwyer stated.
“His 30 second splits are like 28 second splits for other horses. He’s deceptively quick.
"During the Peak of the Creek series it was all about winning but keeping in mind, time was vitally important, more so in the heat but he could’ve tested the track record that day.
"How many horses have posted back-to-back sub 1:50 miles up here?”
Well, as it stands, Cheerstolou is the only horse to achieve that feat at Albion Park with Jimartee the only other horse with multiple sub 1:50 victories at the famed 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 at the Smith stables was perfect. Their run of recent good fortune through the likes of classy mares Uptown Beachgirl and the ill-fated Chynchilla was quickly followed by Rocket City (16 wins, $240,000) landing from Perth.
Cheerstolou and Rocket City (also owned by Burchill and Spice) have become quite the pairing and regularly work with each other.
“We’ve been fortunate in recent times to have some nice horses walk into the stable and while all very different in their own ways, they’ve been great to deal with, but Lou is easily the most relaxed, nothing bothers him,” Smith said.
“He’s adapted to my system; he works over two miles and handles it very well. I think with him and Rocket working together, it’s helped get the best out of each of them. I’m keen to see how far he can go because I’m sure we haven’t reached the bottom of him just yet.”
Since the Peak of the Creek series, Cheerstolou tasted defeat for the first time in Queensland when 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 1660m feature before bouncing back with back-to-back Albion Park victories.
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 knocked down to the winning bid of Adam, Ben and Terry Cormack for $45,000.
His pedigree is deep. He’s the first foal of his unraced dam but close relations 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) among others.
Sent to the stables of legendary trainer Peter Manning at Great Western, Cheerstolou won six races including the 2023 SA St Leger at Globe Derby, defeating 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 victories 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 switch to the warmer climate has certainly reignited the fire for Cheerstolou winning eight of his first nine starts at The Creek with the promise of plenty more to come.
Who knows but a nomination for the Inter Dominion series at Albion Park in July wouldn’t come as a complete shock given his efforts to date.
“We’re looking forward to the year ahead, hopefully bigger things to come.” Burchill said.
Here’s cheers. Lou loves the Sunshine State.
