Weetwood Day brings a 10-race program to Toowoomba this Saturday, with the Listed Weetwood, Toowoomba Cup and Toowoomba Guineas among the features.
The track is rated a Good 4, and the rail is in the true position.
The opening races should help reveal the track conditions and any pattern. The speed map points to an advantage for runners that can settle handy or race on speed. Early positioning is key across the card.
Our race analysis covers the key runners, main winning chances and best betting opportunities across the card.
Let’s get some Toowoomba bread!
THATS ARCHIES GIRL (6) has been knocking on the door for a win and gets her chance returning to her home track.
The Nick Keal-trained mare was last seen settling a long way back from an outside gate at the Gold Coast before working home strongly to finish fourth, beaten three-quarters of a length. It was a big effort considering the run went against the pattern of the day.
She had also recorded the fastest final sectionals when finishing fourth, beaten 1.56 lengths, in a stronger race at Doomben three starts ago. Before that, she rocketed home to place at Eagle Farm.
Blinkers go on for the first time, and Kelsey Lenton’s 3kg claim sees her get in very well at the weights.
| 6. Thats Archies Girl (10) J: Kelsey Lenton 55.5kg 23434 T: Nick Keal | |||
| Finished strongly from well back at Gold Coast last week when fourth, beaten just under a length by Exceed Perfection on good ground. That backed up her Eagle Farm third on soft ground, where she charged home from a long way back as the well-supported favourite. Blinkers go on and she looks ready to put it all together. | |||
BARBRAY (11) has been flying this preparation since arriving in Queensland.
The Chris Waller-trained gelding won back-to-back races at the Sunshine Coast and Eagle Farm before running on strongly to finish fourth, beaten 1.44 lengths, at Eagle Farm two starts ago.
It was a sick watch for his followers last start over a mile at Doomben. He loomed in the straight with plenty to give, only to run into backsides and go to the line untested, finishing fifth, beaten 1.33 lengths. He arguably should have won.
It is no surprise that Taylor Marshall replaces Jake Bayliss. The Stradbroke Handicap-winning jockey should give him every chance from the inside barrier and with a light weight.
| 11. Barbray (1) J: Taylor Marshall 53.5kg 41145 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Had genuine excuses when fifth to Liberty Park in a Doomben Benchmark 78, beaten a length and a half after missing the start and being held up in the straight as favourite. His previous Eagle Farm fourth behind Livalittle was also sound, closing from well back on soft ground. Easier grade and light weight make him the benchmark. | |||
MADALSA (11) has a strong record over this course and distance and can bounce back from a luckless run here last start.
The Pat Webster-trained mare loomed ominously before the straight but could not get clear until the opportunity had passed. She went on to finish third, beaten just under two lengths.
She boasts an excellent record over the track and trip, with three wins and four placings from 12 starts. One of those victories came just three starts ago, when she bolted in by 4.19 lengths.
She has been five weeks between runs but has shown she can race well fresh.
Les “Bubba” Tilley replaces the apprentice and should be able to settle her in a prominent position.
| 11. Madalsa (7) J: Les Tilley 57.5kg 24123 T: Pat Webster | |||
| Returns from a five-week freshening after a luckless Benchmark 58 third at Toowoomba, where she was favourite, raced keenly and was held up twice before finishing under two lengths away. She had earlier chased The Louvre here and is proven over this track and distance. Track-and-trip record helps, but this is stronger. | |||
Top Queensland trainer Tony Gollan has placed YOWERI (7) beautifully since the gelding joined his stable from O’Shea & Charlton in Sydney.
The son of I Am Invincible has won four of his past eight starts, including last start over 1100m at Ipswich. He raced on speed and held on to win by a neck.
The slight drop in distance suits, and he won over this trip three starts ago at Ballina.
Emily Pozman claims 3kg and can give him a sweet run from the inside draw.
| 7. Yoweri (1) J: Emily Pozman 57kg 13131 T: Tony Gollan | |||
| Arrives in consistent form, winning at Ipswich last start by half a length from Meet George after racing just off the lead. Two back he was beaten just under a length in a Benchmark 65 over 800m, with the stewards noting he had difficulty getting clear near the 400m. First Toowoomba run is the main unknown. | |||
IRAMA (5) has been low flying since joining the Nick Keal stable and looks well placed to go back-to-back on his home track.
The five-year-old gelding was a dominant winner over 1200m here last start. Despite racing wide throughout, he let down powerfully after a sweeping move around the turn to win by just under two lengths.
He has three wins and two seconds from six starts at Toowoomba.
Gary “5G” Geran retains the ride and should settle just off what looks like a solid speed before launching late.
| 5. Irama (7) J: Gary Geran 60kg x1821 T: Nick Keal | |||
| Put the race away well here last start, beating Kingsland by two lengths despite jumping awkwardly and racing wide. That backed up a solid second at this track when sent out favourite and beaten just under a length by Miss De Medici. Honest track profile keeps him in the minors. | |||
MEAN APPROACH (1) will appreciate returning to 1200m after working home well for second behind winning machine Gram over 1110m at Doomben last start.
The Pat Webster-trained gelding went down in a bobbing finish to Shelstein two starts ago at Doomben over this trip. He now meets that rival slightly better at the weights.
He has been flying this preparation with two metropolitan wins and is undefeated in two starts over this course and distance.
Webster scratched him from the Weetwood in favour of this easier assignment.
Gun apprentice Jace McMurray takes the ride and should not be far off what looks like a strong speed.
| 1. Mean Approach (9) J: Jace Mcmurray 60kg 11722 T: Pat Webster | |||
| Has been holding form well, finishing second at Doomben last start after settling back and keeping on, beaten two and a half lengths by Gram in Saturday company. The run prior reads strongly enough too, beaten a nose by Shelstein in an NMW on soft ground. Wide draw is the query, but he has the profile to run well again. | |||
ESPERANZA (7) returns to the races for the first time since finishing seventh, beaten 2.8 lengths, in the Spirit Of Boom Classic during the Queensland Racing Carnival.
The Rex Lipp-trained filly won on debut over 1110m at Doomben before finishing runner-up in both the QTIS Jewel 2YO Fillies Prelude and the QTIS Jewel.
She looks set for a bold first-up showing after two trials. In her latest, she led all the way and beat her rivals by 11 lengths.
They should run along at a decent clip here, which should allow her to enjoy a nice run just off the speed for Angela Jones.
| 7. Esperanza (5) J: Angela Jones 55kg 2267x T: Rex Lipp | |||
| Returns from a five-month break after finishing seventh in the G2 Spirit Of Boom Classic at Doomben, beaten just under three lengths by Vantorix after beginning awkwardly, being hampered and covering ground from the back. She was also favourite in the Listed Calaway Gal Plate two back but raced keenly on heavy ground. Clear danger if sharp enough at 1200m. | |||
LET’SFACETHEMUSIC (8) has raced in terrific form since joining the Corey & Kylie Geran stable. You can be sure the Toowoomba racing family will have him cherry-ripe for Clifford Park’s biggest feature of the year.
The son of I Am Invincible was excellent over 1110m at Doomben last start. After being pestered in front, he dashed clear to win by 1.28 lengths.
That run suggests he will handle 1200m, and he won by 3.05 lengths over the distance when second-up this preparation at Doomben.
He is versatile and can go forward or settle handy. I’ll trust Gary “5G” Geran to find the right spot.
If the grey salutes, the BGDs will be on!
| 8. Let’Sfacethemusic (9) J: Gary Geran 54kg 55141 T: Corey & Kylie Geran | |||
| Returns from a five-week freshening after beating Fukubana by just over a length in a Doomben Class 6 as an odds-on favourite, travelling well before proving too good. His prior fourth to Epic Proportions in Open grade was better than it looked, having begun awkwardly, raced keenly and covered ground. Listed record is the knock, but he is in the mix. | |||
Chris & Corey Munce know what it takes to win the Toowoomba Cup, having taken out the feature with Walsh Bay last year and Military Gambler in 2023.
This year, they make the trip up the hill with DIAMOND SHOW (12), who is racing in great fettle.
The daughter of Almanzor was last seen finding the line strongly over this distance at Doomben after being impeded. She finished second by a head to Livalittle, who has won three of his past four starts.
Before that, she won back-to-back races over 2060m and 2200m at Doomben.
With just 52kg on her back and Cejay Graham replacing the apprentice, she should take some holding out.
| 12. Diamond Show (9) J: Cejay Graham 52kg 22112 T: Chris & Corey Munce | |||
| Went within a neck of Livalittle in a Benchmark 85 at Doomben, with that second placing coming after minor interference and confirming her strong current form. She had won a Benchmark 80 over 2200m there two back, beating Fernao by a long neck. Airborne and only needs to hold her form to be right there again. | |||
If OFF THE PRESS (8) handles the rise at Toowoomba, he should be very hard to beat in the final race.
Trainer Todd Smart has brought the Press Statement gelding all the way from Canberra, and he brings excellent Sydney form with him.
He found the line strongly first-up over 1100m at Rosehill to finish second by a neck before trying hard for third, beaten 3.16 lengths, over six furlongs at Randwick.
He looks set to peak third-up and gets in with just 53kg after Anna Roper’s claim.
The apprentice should be able to land on speed and enjoy a lovely run.
| 8. Off The Press (4) J: Anna Roper 53kg 65×23 T: Todd Smart | |||
| Brings solid Sydney form into this after finishing third in a 3yo+ Benchmark 78 at Randwick, beaten just over three lengths by Decorum after being bumped at the start. He had charged home for second to Polyglot at Rosehill over 1100m the run prior. Third-up and drawn well, he looks the one they have to beat. | |||