Tony and Maddy Sears are enjoying a high-flying 2020 on the track but they are hoping the best might still be to come this Saturday when they saddle up for Weetood day at Clifford Park.
The Toowoomba father-and-daughter training team is looking to add to its successful year with a strong home-town showing at this weekend’s Audi Centre Weetwood Handicap meeting.
The nine-race card is laced with four feature events as Toowoomba Turf Club makes its historic move from autumn into spring carnival mode.
Saturday’s program is highlighted by the Listed Weetwood Handicap, and includes the TAB Toowoomba Cup, Moore Trailers Toowoomba Guineas and Toowoomba Truck Spares Pat O’Shea Plate.
The Sears stable has runners entered for several races including the Weetwood, Cup and Guineas.
Its Toowoomba Cup candidate Barefoot and Guineas hopeful Eleuthera were amongst the gallopers on show at today’s Clifford Park Breakfast With The Stars where a number of Saturday’s feature entries helped wind up their race preparations at the club’s annual public breakfast.
The Sears’ stable also have Tycoon Ace, Piracy and Rockbeat nominated for the $125,000 Weetwood.
The race received 31 entries which will be cut to 14 runners plus five emergencies at acceptance time tomorrow.
The Sears’ combination plans to have as many as nine Saturday runners.
“It will be a busy day for us and it’s nice to have some feature runners on our big day here at home,” Maddy said.
“Rockbeat and Piracy will probably be too far down the entry list to get a Weetwood start but Tycoon Ace will be there for us.
“We’ve got Barefoot in the cup and it would be great to win it after running second with Don Vito a few years ago.
“Don Vito was raced by Zandra Fleming, who also owns Barefoot, and it’s a race she would love to win.
“We’ve got a pretty decent team racing across the whole meeting and we’re really looking forward to the day.
“Hopefully there is a winner there for us.”
Today’s breakfast track workers included Weetwood candidates Bergerac, who resumes on Saturday for trainer Steve Tregea and the Rex Lipp-trained In His Stride.
Saturday’s fields will be announced after 10 o’clock tomorrow morning with the public Weetwood Handicap barrier draw to take place at Clifford Park from 11am.
By Glen McCullough
