Marbellouz plan remains
RACING: Plan A remains in place for Weetwood hopeful Mr Marbellouz as he returns to the Gold Coast tomorrow to tackle the Listed Goldmarket (1200m).
Mr Marbellouz was due to have his final lead-up run into the Clifford Park Weetwood Handicap on April 6 last Saturday only to see the plan go out the window with the $125,000 feature postponed due to soggy conditions.
Trainer Kevin Kemp has taken the precaution this weekend of accepting in both the Goldmarket and Open Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm with the Toowoomba fiveyear-old.
But after coming up with gate four in the redrawn 13-horse Goldmarket field, Kemp said Mr Marbellouz was all but certain to head to the coast.
“Gate four. We’re very happy with that. He’ll definitely go to the Goldmarket,” Kemp said yesterday.
“The only way that would change is if it bucketed down again at the Gold Coast and the track was in danger of becoming a bog.
“We were watching the weather and track really closely last week and if they kept racing and the track got any worse after the Three-Year-Old Jewel were considering asking for permission to scratch him.
“So we weren’t disappointed when the race was called off and it’s probably even better now running this week and then having a fortnight into the Weetwood.”
Dale Smith rides Mr Marbellouz tomorrow in place of Toowoomba apprentice Baylee Nothdurft who was originally booked for the ride but has Eagle Farm commitments to meet.
Kemp is also hoping to line up on Weetwood day in the Toowoomba Cup (2000m) with emerging stayer Fighting Teo.
But the four-year-old is in danger of missing the field cut-off after being narrowly beaten over 2400 metres at the Gold Coast last Saturday.
“That was his first run for three weeks, and he only got caught in the last few strides,” Kemp said.
“We’d like to have a go at the Toowoomba Cup with him but I doubt he’ll have enough rating points to get in now.
“If he doesn’t get a run maybe he’ll be a nice Toowoomba Cup horse next year.”
Fellow Clifford Park stayer Emphasis completes his Toowoomba Cup preparation for trainer Richie Stephenson in tomorrow’s Open Handicap (1500m) at Eagle Farm.
■ Clifford Park and Gatton’s Burgess Park share the Downs’ region’s TAB racing duties this weekend.
Tonight’s eight-race Toowoomba Turf club card is highlighted by the $50,000 Barrier Reef Pools Class 6 Plate (1300m).
The race is headed by well-performed Eagle Farm four-year-old Brains for trainer Tony Gollan.
Other visiting stables represented in the race include Warwick Farm’s Greg Hickman (All Summer Long) and Toby Edmonds (I Am Impinge and Beacon).
Tomorrow’s Lockyer Valley Turf Club meeting features the Hayman’s Electrical Gatton Laidley Cup Open Handicap (1600m).