Clifford Park in winter spotlight

RACING: Toowoomba stables will begin resetting their feature race sights after playing a starring role at this year’s Queensland Winter Racing Carnival.

Clifford Park trainers stepped up for the home state to supply nine Black Type winners during the three-month feature feast.

Ben Currie put the writing on the wall for a stellar winter when he peeled off three wins at the opening carnival meeting at Clifford Park in April, including his dead-heat victory with Col ‘N’ Lil in the Listed Weetwood Handicap.

Currie went on to lead the way for Queensland over the carnival with four Black Type wins.

Col ‘N’ Lil also claimed a Group Three victory for owner Kim McCasker in the Lord Mayors Cup at Eagle Farm with Cantbuybetter and With A Promise also clinching Listed wins for Currie.

Reigning Clifford Park premier Tony Sears notched Listed victories in The Phoenix and Oxlade Stakes with Eureka-bred two-year-old Pardoe who will now race in Hong Kong.

Michael Nolan scored his third Weetwood win when Jumbo Prince dead-heated with Col ‘N’ Lil before going on to be placed twice at Listed level over longer journeys.

Trainers Steve Tregea and John Zielke also chimed in with Group victories from Niccanova and Dreams Aplenty respectively.

Niccanova took out the Group Three Fred Best before finishing second in the Queensland Guineas, while Dreams Aplenty followed his Toowoomba Guineas win with success in the Group Three Gunsynd Classic.

Currie has already broken the Clifford Park record for winner’s trained in a season while also leading the Queensland trainer’s premiership on 96 1⁄2 wins.

“We’ve had a great season with the Weetwood being on our home track probably the highlight,” Currie said.

“The way our horses are rated now we might have to look at some suitable races down south with them.

“But there are plenty of options ahead over the spring and summer where the Magic Millions will be a major focus.”