Tomso’s Dalby mission
Newmarket win key to Weetwood
Toowoomba gelding Tisani Tomso will be on a mission within a mission when he looks to post backto-back Bunya Park feature victories tomorrow.
Tisani Tomso will be aiming to continue his solid recent form when he chases a second successive Wild River Concrete Dalby Newmarket Handicap (1200m) win.
Tomorrow’s $20,000 Newmarket heads Dalby & Northern Downs Jockey Club’s premier race day also featuring the Paul and David Winter Lightning Handicap (800m).
Tisani Tomso clearly heads this year’s Newmarket weights with 61.5kg but gets a 2kg relief with apprentice Nicholas Keal to ride.
Tisani Tomso was a Doomben Open winner two runs back and was scratched last Saturday from his latest Doomben assignment after drawing a wide gate.
Trainer Kevin Kemp has now reverted to Plan B with the seven-year-old as he looks to qualify him for a possible start in next month’s Listed Weetwood Handicap at Clifford Park.
A Newmarket victory will give him a welcome handicap rating boost in his bid to win a place in the Weetwood field.
“We’d definitely like to get him into the Weetwood and a win on Saturday will certainly help his chances,” Kemp said.
“We’re trying to get his rating up and that’s why we pulled him out from the wide draw at Doomben last week.
“He’s got 61.5kg this year but he gets a couple of kilos off for Nick and both his runs at Dalby have been good.
“He’s such a hardy horse who loves racing and I’m sure he’ll turn up to give his best again on Saturday.
“You don’t get too many horses that keep putting in like he does.”
■ TOMORROW’S Bunya Park meeting includes an historic occasion when the race club officially opens its new Bunya Park viewing deck.
The new public facility replaces Bunya Park’s previous century-old grandstand which was destroyed in a blaze last January.
■ WARWICK Turf Club kicks off a busy weekend of Downs racing when it hosts a seven-race TAB card today at Allman Park.
The program is highlighted by the Frasers Livestock Transport QTIS Three-YearOld Handicap (1100m).
The race is a qualifying event for next Saturday’s $125,000 QTIS Three-YearOld Jewel (1200m) at the Gold Coast.
■ RACING returns to Charleville tomorrow when Central Warrego Race Club comes out of its summer recess with a five-event card.
The meeting also marks the return to riding from the training ranks by Cheryl Rogers.
■ ESK Race Club also stages a six-race card tomorrow staring at 12.50.
For country race fields, see page 28