WIELAND BAGS A DOUBLE

CAIRNS trainer Fred Wieland was back among the winners at Cannon Park yesterday, delivering a double for renowned owner Tom Hedley that could result in more champion horses coming his stable’s way.

Van Gaal ($15), ridden by Wanderson D’Avila, defied a double-digit quote in the third race to get the Wielandtrained party started, before Deigo Bay ($3.90), ridden by Nathan Day, lunged late to pip the Kayla Russell-trained Final Warning in the fourth.

Having gone 30 starts without a win, yesterday’s success provided Wieland with his first victory since Van Gaal won at Cannon Park on April 30.

He will be hoping the double can give Hedley more confidence in the partnership, established last year, which could see him take on more Hedley stock in the future.

Wieland said four-year-old gelding Deigo Bay showed improvement yesterday, in what was his third win in four starts at Cannon Park.

“He did everything wrong last prep, didn’t run out of a place and went for a spell,” he said.

“He was probably a bit unlucky in Townsville the other day and he’s still a hard horse to ride, but he’s trying to work it out.

“We’ll look to find another TAB race that suits him.”

Day’s ride on Deigo Bay was one of four winning rides for the jockey on the day.

Meanwhile, former leading Top End trainer-jockey Carl Spry landed his first winner since making the move from Darwin to North Queensland, with San Joaquin saluting in the Maiden Handicap

(1400m).

Three-time Cairns Cupwinning jockey Graham Kliese also made his return to the winners’ circle, aboard the Trevor Rowe-trained Beat It in the 2YO and 3YO Maiden Handicap (1250m).

It was the jockey’s first winning ride since he made his return to race riding last month, after spending more than two years on the sidelines and being told he would never ride again after badly breaking his leg in a fall at Cannon Park in January 2018.