A home-town dream remains alive and well for two of Toowoomba racing’s most reconisable faces as the 2020 Audi Centre Weetwood Handicap continued to unfold today.
Long-time Clifford Park trainer Barry Squair and stalwart Toowoomba jockey Ron Goltz moved a step closer to capturing their first Weetwood victories after popular mare Love You Lucy drew favourably for Saturday’s Listed feature.
Seven-locally trained gallopers will take on a host of Queensland’s best available sprinters in the time-honoured Weetwood after the fields for Saturday’s premier Toowoomba race day were declared today.
Barry was on hand at this morning’s public Weetwood and Toowoomba Cup barrier draws at Clifford Park and drew a warm response from onlookers after selecting barrier five for his crowd-pleasing five-year-old.
“She’s first-up after a break and ideally I probably would have liked another couple of weeks with her after she hurt her leg in the paddock,” Barry said.
“But she comes to hand pretty quickly and has won first-up before.
“She was a tragedy beaten at her last start at Eagle Farm before the break and what I like about her is she down to 55.5kg in the weights.
“She is going as good as I can have her at this stage and hopefully she is good enough on Saturday.”
Clifford Park bookmaker Pat Kynoch expects Weetwood punters to zero in on The Oddysey after the consistent Eagle Farm four-year-old drew ideally in barrier four for trainer Kelly Schweida.
Toowoomba gelding Mr Marbellouz came up with barrier one as he bids to give trainer Kevin Kemp a fifth Weetwood success.
Last year’s Weetwood runner-up Tycoon Ace drew gate 11 but the barrier news was not so good for several other Toowoomba hopefuls including Bergerac (19) and Jadentom (17).
Just Orm (3) drew the best of leading trainer Tony Gollan’s three entries.
The Tony and Maddysen Sears stable drew barrier one for its TAB Toowoomba Cup contender Barefoot.
Leading Australian trainer Chris Waller has two Cup runners, Kaonic (12) and Alward (2), in his quest for back-to-back Toowoomba Cup victories.
Saturday’s nine-race card is also highlighted by the Moore Trailers Toowoomba Guineas and Toowoomba Truck Spares Pat O’Shea Plate for the two-year-old debutants.
By Glen McCullough
