Late charge by Mass Destruction could land cup for Gollan yard

CLIFFORD Park hosts Toowoomba’s premier race meeting of the year on Saturday afternoon headlined by the Weetwood Handicap.

There is also a stellar support card that includes the Toowoomba Cup over 2000m, the Garden City Guineas over 1625m and the QTIS-backed Pat O’Shea Plate for the youngsters over the 1000m trip. The time-honoured Weetwood Handicap (1200m) is steeped in tradition and while there may be an inaugural coronation happening in Toowoomba at the end of the year with the running of the King of the Mountain, this year’s edition of the Weetwood Handicap will still be a hotly contested affair.

The field is dominated by talented Queensland horses, but they have southern raider Flying Crazy ($4.80) to contend with this time around from the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou yard. He is first-up from a spell following a quiet recent trial but has the credentials to be competitive.

The Weetwood Handicap is a highly-desired notch on the belt among the Queensland training ranks and Desleigh Forster collected the spoils last year with race favourite Apache Chase. This year she saddles up Emerald Kingdom who appears to be generous odds at the double figure quote. He was well-beaten when resuming at Doomben but does have an imposing second-up record.

The Tony Gollan yard will be saddling-up three runners this year and they look to have their best chance yet of finally claiming that elusive Weetwood victory.

Mass Destruction has placed three times in black-type races and should be charging home late from the back.

Garibaldi is the early second favourite with TAB after beating home fancied runners Axe and stablemate Ef Troop in the Goldmarket at the Gold Coast last start. Axe will no doubt be fitter this time around and could take plenty of catching but do not dismiss Ef Troop after not being able to find clear air until very late in the piece.

Bonaparte is looking to bring up the hat-trick of wins and is also wellin the market after landing the prize in the listed Tattersall’s Cup last start.

The only two mares in this year’s edition, Winside and Miss Divine Em, are both emergencies so will need a scratching or three to gain a start.

In what looms to be a very open betting race, I will be having something each-way on Ef Troop but it would be no surprise to see any of these other in-form runners hitting the line.

The bumper card kicks off just after 1pm on Saturday afternoon with the Weetwood scheduled to be run at 5.40pm.

Be sure to get along to Clifford Park on Saturday to enjoy all the racing action and of course, it will be shown live on Sky Racing 1 and Sky Thoroughbred Central.

You can also watch the action anytime on the new TAB app.