Stud-bound mare Miss Imagica could have her career extended for one more start if she runs well in her bid for a hat-trick of Weetwood Handicap wins.
Miss Imagica is one of six horses to twice win the Weetwood which is Toowoomba and Queensland provincial racing’s premier sprint.
Last year she joined Red Shah, Wine And Song and Combo as horses who have won the race in consecutive years.
High Prince and Tellem are also two-time Weetwood winners.
Miss Imagica won the past two Weetwoods on the Toowoomba cushion track and only one of her 10 wins has been on turf, the surface for Saturday night’s race.
However, trainer Michael Nolan is growing in confidence about Miss Imagica’s chances of creating history by becoming the first horse to win three straight Weetwoods.
“She is down in the weights to the minimum and while she has been getting beaten she has been racing well,” he said.
“I would be disappointed if she didn’t at least be about the winner’s stall.”
Nolan said if Miss Imagica raced well in the Weetwood she would have one more start before a stud career in the Gold Coast Silk Stocking on May 3.
“Either way she is definitely off to stud next season,” he said.
Regular trips to the beach have primed veteran galloper Steel Zip to give veteran trainer Pat Duff a much coveted Weetwood win.
“Steel Zip hasn’t seen a track since he won at Doomben in early March,” Duff said.
“But we keep him up to the mark with beach work at Sandgate. He thrives on it.”