WINNO'S WINNERS: TOOWOOMBA, SEPTEMBER 24, 2022

By Darren Winningham | Friday, September 23, 2022

This week we are up the hill and out far west today at Toowoomba where the race-day features the Toowoomba Cup and the Weetwood.

The locals will be out in force and for sure kick on further later in town – it will be a big weekend in Toowoomba! Headaches will feature come Sunday morning for sure and certain.

The track rated ‘Soft’ with the rail is in the true position.

Resident caller Anthony Collins will call the big day – an expert race commentator and another QLDer like his mate Josh Fleming! I have been told FLEMO will be in attendance as well – I just cannot attend the track with these two there to stir me up – so I will be watching all the action on SKY RACING.

NB: As these selections were made prior to race-day, please check for any changes to track conditions and for any scratchings on the day.

Race 1

A nice race to start off the day – over 1200 metres.

Self Indulgent (9), a last start winner, goes around here as an odds-on favourite. Ryan Maloney retains the ride for the Tony Gollan Racing team.

Local runner Miss McKinley (8) is third up for Sears Racing with Jimmy Orman riding and will be a good blow out chance. She will sit just of the speed and be hitting the line hard late.

Cool Hard Fast (1) backs up after racing on the heavy track at the Gold Coast last week. She hated the bog conditions and should improve for the Kropp stables on a firm surface – Adin Thompson will ride.

Selections:

9 – Self Indulgent
8 – Miss McKinley
1 – Cool Hard Fact
5 – American Saint
Rough chance – (4))

Race 2

A sprint race over 1000 metres – Class 3.

Uncle Russ (5), trained by Lindsay Hatch, has won his past two starts. Angela Jones will ride, and he looks the winner.

Funny Money (10) worked home well last time out behind Self Indulgent (Race 1- 9) – keep this form line in mind. Brodie Loy will ride mare.

Allez Zou (1) is trained on the Sunshine Coast by Billy Healey and has drawn wide in barrier 13. Won last time out at his home track at the Sunshine Coast – Ryan Maloney retains the ride – could be some value here.

Selections:

5 – Uncle Russ
10 – Funny Money
1 – Allez Zou
3 – Married To The Mob

Race 3 PAT O’SHEA PLATE

The first two-year-old race in QLD for the season – named after an absolute legend in Toowoomba and in race calling in QLD – Pat O’Shea.

Adin Thompson rides Felix The Scat (1) for his bosses Peter & Will Hulbert. Had solid win in a Doomben trial in good time – I think I would declare this one if he had drawn a barrier. There looks to be super speed drawn inside him. I just hope he can get in and run over them late – super odds each way at $12.

Kevin Kemp trains Russian Alliance (11) here who won a recent trial in good fashion on the track. Larry Cassidy will ride – drawn barrier 1 as well – normally my rule is if you do not know much in these early two-year-old races you back the one drawn the rails!

Top Fun is trained here as well by Sears Racing – another solid winner in a trial on his home track. Ben Thompson will ride. There has been solid money for this runner since the markets have opened.

Bedaub (8) is trained on the track by Michael Nolan with Stephanie Lacy riding. Has had two trials to get ready for this debut run.

Les Ross Racing has an all-out assault on the race with five runners nominated. They all have been performing well in all their trials as well – I think the best of them could be Mishani Raider (5) with Brodie Loy riding.

Selections:

1 – Felix The Scat
11 – Russian Alliance
7 – Top Fun
8 – Bedaub
Rough chance – (5) Mishani Raider

Race 4 2022 TOOWOOMBA GUINEAS

The Toowoomba Guineas has a history of rough results.

Only a small field nominated.

Altar Boy (2) is second up for the new stable – Stuart Kendrick. Was a solid effort over the mile last time at Doomben – I think he can improve again – Brodie Loy will ride.

Cocobrew Express is trained by Tom Button Racing – he has the wonderful sky-blue colours – so it is ironic that the number one BLUES jockey Luke Tarrant is aboard.

Demon Delivera (4) won here last time out - is trained by Corey & Kylie Geran and why not keep it in the family with Gary Geran to ride and attempt to win this feature race. The stable has had solid form in recent weeks.

Madame Odette (8) really did not fire last time out – blinkers go on again here – an improvement could be on the cards for this Gollan Racing runner.

Selections:

2 – Altar Boy
1 – Cocobrew Express
4 – Demon Delivera
8 – Madame Odette

Race 5

Final leg of the early Quaddie over 1625 metres.

Local trainers Maddy and Tony Sears have Goldeel (9) waving the flag for the locals – Angela Jones to ride. Sensational effort last time out to win on a heavy track at Doomben – solid sectionals as well. I think he can get the job done here.

Hail To The Chief (10) is trained by Michael Nolan and Luke Tarrant will ride. Won here last time out over 1300 metres a fortnight ago. Has had eight starts here and never finished out of the money.

Couldn’t Refuse (2) is back to the mile – he goes best at this distance. The 2022 Wayne Wilson Medal winner Desleigh Forster trains this runner and Jim Byrne will ride. Could be one to follow at $18.

Selections:

9 – Goldeel
10 – Hail To The Chief
2 – Couldn’t Refuse
6 – Irukandji

Race 6

First leg of the Quaddie this week. An open race to think about over 1300 metres.

Gollan Racing is well represented here with three runners – the best of them being with Ulysses (6) with Ryan Maloney to ride. Resumed over 1200 metres at Doomben and had no luck being caught wide throughout, but still working home well late. Over the extra distance and with a run under his belt he looks well placed.

Chris Waller Racing has Rubamos (11) in the field. A last start winner at a midweek meeting – was a solid win at the Gold Coast. Jimmy Orman has a decent strike rate with this stable he could post consecutive wins.

Barry Baldwin has Gave Us Up (2) in the field and he is second up. This runner has a striking second up record and at around $21 could be a massive blow out chance for the bookies. Brad Stewart has the ride, and he likes to upset the favoured runners when he gets the opportunity – this one could trail them into the race nicely with solid speed and flash home late.

Matowatakpe (3) is on the quick back up after a solid effort on a heavy track at the Gold Coast last Saturday. Jack Bruce trains and Brodie Loy will ride him. He has a particularly good third up record – keep safe.

Scottish Prince (17) won last time out at a huge price for veteran trainer Pat Duff and jockey Wendy Peel – if he gets the run here, he could be another one to upset these runners.

Selections:

6 – Ulysses
11 – Rubamos
2 – Gave Us Up
3 – Matowatakpe
Rough chance – (17) Scottish Prince

Race 7 TOOWOOMBA CUP

One of the main feature races on the program is over 2000 metres – the Toowoomba Cup.

I like a roughie here to get the job done – trained on the track as well by Lindsay Hatch – they will be partying hard if they can get their hands on their hometown Cup! Sayl (8) ventured north and won the Mackay Cup and then was drastically unlucky in the Townsville Cup where he was favourite and got too far back (which is the way he races) and flew home late to finish third on a day where the runners on speed had a distinct advantage. He then went around at Doomben over 1600 metres and ran last – forget that run where he turned up to the track and was in a pig of a mood. The winkers go back on here – I reckon with the solid speed in the race he could be the one to be on at $21.

Honorable Spirit (10) won the Gold Coast Cup last time out – that was a month ago. Has had a trial since as well. Trained by John Smerdon and Mark Du Plessis will ride again. This gelding ran a gallant second in this race last year beaten by Wapiti who is trained by Gary Duncan – could history repeat with a Duncan runner beating him again with Seat Of Power (2)?

Seat Of Power (2) will have the services of Jimmy Orman who knows this track well. He won well at Doomben at his last start – after travelling wide throughout and getting the job done late in a significant effort. He has a big weight to carry, and he will appreciate the good speed in the race to be able to work home late. He will be right in this race.

Bartholomeu Dias (1) is trained by Annabel Neasham with Brodie Loy to ride. He won on him last time out at Eagle Farm. Has been freshened since that win. Just not sure how he will go on this track. But he is a definite chance.

Red Wave (14) is a genuine lightweight, rough chance.

Selections:

8 – Sayl
10 – Honorable Spirit
2 – Seat Of Power
1 – Bartholomeu Dias
Rough chance – (14) Red Wave

Race 8 WEETWOOD HANDICAP

The WEETWOOD for 2022.

Gollan Racing has three runners in the race. I like Mass Destruction (12) with Ben Thompson to ride. He resumed and gave away too much start over 1110 metres at Doomben. In saying that he was finishing three strides to one of the winner Weona Smartone. I think second up over the 1200 metres he looks ideally placed - $8 is generous odds in this open field.

Then there are the local runners – can they take out the feature double this year and keep the trophies and cash in the local community in 2022?

Wham (13) is trained by Lindsay Hatch and Larry Cassidy will ride the gelding. He is a genuine each way chance at around $41 to fill a placing. He goes well on this track – and will be working home late. Can Lindsay train the feature double in his hometown? We will see come Saturday afternoon!

Donald “Ducky” Baker has his exciting sprinter Legal Espirit (14) stepping out in Open company and back to a distance that he loves. Last time out at Doomben over 1110 metres he never got warm – watch for him to be handy throughout, sitting just off the speed and then letting down late and looking the winner at some point in the straight. The stable has stuck solid with Adin Thompson who has ridden him in all four starts this preparation – for two wins and a second (should have won that race too). He is well placed and well-drawn in barrier 6 to get the run of the race – the bookmakers must be kidding posting $16 about this runner down on the minimum weight. Adin would love to be holding this trophy high after winning this race – he will be celebrating!

Flying Crazy (3) is the NSW invader trained by Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou resuming after a 15-week spell with Brad Stewart in the saddle. Brad rode him to win the Daybreak Lover (Listed level) back in April. I think he will enjoy a firm surface – so hopefully the rain that has been around the last few days has not impacted the track.

Rough chances to Ef Troop (11) and Axe (10).

It is a wonderful field for 2022 with many chances – one thing is for sure if you can jag the trifecta and first four you will be rewarded well in the pocket.

Selections:

12 – Mass Destruction
14 – Legal Espirit
13 – Wham
3 – Flying Crazy
Rough chances – (10) Axe & (11) Ef Troop

Race 9

The last race – on a massive day of racing – off to the pubs in town after this one!

The lights will be on – what a spectacle for this wonderful track and meeting.

This race is over 1200m – I have tipped another roughie at around $26, the Pat Webster trained Rejoiced (14) who resumed here a month ago and won easily for the new stable. He has drawn well in barrier 6 and should get the run of the race behind the tearaway leaders. Gary Geran will ride him for the first time.

Smart Image (11) is a Gollan Racing runner who is fourth up here. I think that he will enjoy the fast tempo and should be well placed coming to the turn by Jimmy Orman – look for him to be running home late out wide.

Hodgson (7) is trained by Adam Campton on the Gold Coast – he has been placing his runners very well and he will have this one ready to fire coming up the mountain to try to post another win. He is looking to post four wins in a row and has the benefit of the 3-kilogram claim for Wendy Peel.

Manhood (8) seemed to peak on his run late in Class 6 grade last time out at Doomben. He is back in grade here with Brodie Loy to ride again – he can turn his run of bad luck out and get a win.

For My Annie (3) has a tremendous record at the track – 6 starts for 5 wins and a third. Trained here by Lindsay Hatch – could be a blow out chance in this last race. Angela Jones will ride the gelding. Watch for a bold effort at huge odds - $31.

Selections:

14 – Rejoiced
11 – Smart Image
7 – Hodgson
8 – Manhood
Rough chance – (3) For My Annie
_____________________________________________________________________

Jockey’s Challenge

Looks like it is a battle between Ryan Maloney and Jimmy Orman even Angela Jones. I think Jimmy Orman could return to the days of a young apprentice and win on his track where he did all his learning prior to coming to Brisbane.

Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5)

1,5,10 / 1,7,8,11 / 1,2,4 / 2,9,10 - cost is $108 to $1

Value Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5)

5,10 / 1,11 / 1,2 / 9,10 - cost is $16 to $1

Quaddie (races 6 to 9)

2,3,6,11 / 1,2,8,10 / 12,13,14 / 3,7,8,11,14 - cost is $240 to $1

Value Quaddie (races 6 to 9)

6,11 / 2,8,10 / 12,14 / 7,11,14 - cost is $36 to $1

Treble (races 7 to 9)

1,2,8,10 / 12,13,14 / 3,7,8,11,14 - cost is $60 to $1

WINNO V FLEMO - (COLLINS)

WINNO beat FLEMO last weekend – so let us see what happens this week where I will be taking on ANTHONY COLLINS on his home turf – he does have a hometown advantage by I am confident I can give him a towelling this weekend – how about a $10 scratchy on the result Mr Collins?

The battle continues this week with WINNO and COLLINS – yet another QLDer trying to inflict pain on me! Be sure to check the up to date and amended tips each Saturday morning on Facebook after any track changes and scratchings!

More articles