Wesley ready to Conquer
STAR Tasmanian galloper I’m Wesley looks set to keep his impressive winning record in his home state intact when he tackles the $100,000 weightfor-age Conquering Stakes (1400m) in Launceston tonight.
I’m Wesley was unbeaten from six starts in Tasmania last preparation and he opened his account for this season with an emphatic win in the Newmarket Handicap over 1200m in Launceston three weeks ago.
The Glenn Stevenson-trained gelding collected the Newmarket-Conquering double last season and from what he showed last start to win his second Newmarket, the gelding would only need to turn up to snare the double again.
“The horse pulled up enormous from the Newmarket, in fact it is probably the best he’s ever come through a feature race,” Stevenson said.
“I just kept him ticking over after the Newmarket and his fast gallop on Saturday was as good as it could be so I am looking forward to Wednesday night.”
I’m Wesley was ridden brilliantly by Brendon McCoull in the Newmarket and he has been retained for the ride tonight.
“I’m a big believer in the old saying ‘if it’s not broken don’t try to fix it’ and that particularly applies to jockeys,” Stevenson said. “Having Brendon on top gives us a bit of an edge because he is one of the two most experienced riders in the race and he’s on the horse that deserves to be a short-price favourite.”
McCoull opted to allow I’m Wesley to lead in the Newmarket, a split-second decision he made soon after they jumped when no other rider showed any intention to go forward.
Not that I’m Wesley needed help, but when nothing took him on for the first half of the race McCoull just had to sit quietly in the saddle and they coasted to victory.
Newitt has picked up the ride on the John Blackertrained Quick Defence, which makes his Tasmanian debut.
Quick Defence was pur- chased by Backer via the Gavelhouse.com.au thoroughbred auction internet site in late July. He paid $50,000 for the gelding and sold shares to friends and long-time stable clients, but by the time he landed in Tasmania the horse owed his new owners nothing.
Quick Defence stayed with Waller for three starts after the purchase for a win and a sec- ond that netted the new owners just over $76,000.
“I am very happy with how Quick Defence has settled into out stable and I’m sure he will acquit himself well on Wednesday night,” Blacker said.
Blacker also has Blaze Forth, Beaufort Lad and Zatacla engaged in the race but he says Quick Defence is his best winning chance.
Premier trainer Scott Brunton has three sprinters engaged in Lord Da Vinci, Count Da Vinci and Kenjorwood, which has just joined his stable.
Kenjorwood was with Darren Weir who suggested to the gelding’s owners that it might be time to retire the well-performed nine-year-old, but the owners decided to have one last fling back on home soil.