Blaine hunts for break through

RACING: Blaine has proven to be one of the more consistent horses across the Darling Downs racing circuit in recent times.

Now Toowoomba trainer Stephen Kirkwood is hoping he can break through for a rare win in the Ratings Band 0-58 Handicap (1000m) at Clifford Park tonight.

Joining the Kirkwood yard last year after a stint with Mark Hatch, Blaine has produced two wins and four placings from 10 starts since making the switch.

The successes at Stanthorpe and Gatton took the gelding’s overall record to three wins from 39 career starts.

Kirkwood believes the seven-year-old is primed for a strong showing in the opening race on the card, buoyed by a gallant second when first-up at

Beaudesert last month.

Recent wet weather and challenging gates have forced Kirkwood to opt against running at Warwick and Gatton, where he will likely start from seven.

“I’m happy with him,” Kirkwood said.

“We’ve been dodging a few bad barriers which is why I steered away from Warwick, and wasn’t happy with the track at Gatton.

“I knew they were only 10horse fields at Toowoomba, and he should come into a good gate.

“His first-up effort was respectable for the work he had to do and the short straight.

“We’d like to lead, but we’re happy to sit up there on the pace.”

Kirkwood also has Semphore Girl accepted to run on the card, who he said is an outside chance if she gets luck in running.

“We threw her in the deep end at Eagle Farm last start and not much went right,” he said.

“If she jumps cleanly, which she tends not to do, she’s capable of being in the finish.”

The first race at Clifford Park will jump at 4.45pm.

# THE Goondiwindi Race Club will host a five-race program at Gunsynd Park today.

A total of 44 horse accepted across the day, with the feature race coming in the form of the John Edmonstone Open Handicap (1200m).

Toowoomba trainer Matt Kropp has Splitz engaged as top-weight, while Puzzling Wonder is looking to bring up a hat-trick of victories for Inverell’s Wayne Oakenfull.

The first race is scheduled for 1.30pm.