Favourite draws well in 2016 Weetwood Handicap Field

Sydney visitor Coolring is the ruling $2.50 favourite for Toowoomba’s feature sprint, the Weetwood Handicap, after drawing barrier one.

At this stage, the Bjorn Baker-trained gelding will have a one-off Queensland start in the $150,000 Listed Weetwood (1200m) on Saturday.

Baker was in Toowoomba on Wednesday for the barrier draw and to help promote the meeting which is the official start of Queensland’s winter carnival.

“I have only been through Toowoomba once before on my way to a wedding in Chinchilla last year but I have heard good things about Weetwood day and the new track surface here,” Baker said.

“I suppose it is a case of fortune favours the brave in bringing Coolring here. But it looks a nice race for him.

“He can race handy and I am told that should also suit him on Saturday.”

Baker said Coolring had continued to surprise him with his improvement in the past 12 months.

“His last start when third to the ruling Stradbroke Handicap favourite Malaguerra in the Star Kingdom Stakes was very good. I didn’t expect Coolring to reach this level so quickly,” he said.

“But his mother Coolroom Candidate won a couple of stakes races and apparently she was the same. She made rapid improvement in 12 months to being a black type horse.

“We will see how he comes through the trip and we might come back for some of the other winter carnival races.”

Coolring has won six races and $364,115 prize money but a win in the Weetwood would boost his chances of getting into the bigger carnival races.

Baker has had pervious success in Queensland, including the 2014 Magic Millions 2YO Magic Millions Classic with Unencumbered, and is looking for more this winter.

“We will be bringing Imposing Lass for the Queensland Oaks. She is by Makfi who is the sire of the Australian Oaks winner Sofia Rosa.

“I am keen to get Music Magnate to Queensland and he is in the Hall Mark Stakes on Saturday.”

“Gold Ambition is in the Packer Plate on Saturday and might come north as well. I have a few two-year-olds who are also in line for the trip,” Baker said.

 

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au

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