Weight puts Tyzone in Weetwood frame
THE pride of north Queensland racing Tyzone has the chance to etch his name alongside some of the most famous Weetwood winners when he ventures up the Toowoomba Range tomorrow.
Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds was initially lukewarm on a Weetwood start for the 15-times winner but NQ-based owner Tom Hedley was keen to run in the famed Darling Downs event and has booked flights to be on track tomorrow.
Edmonds’ enthusiasm was bolstered after the acceptances of Cellarman (60kg) and Sovereign Nation (59.5kg) brought Tyzone into the race with less weight than anticipated.
“He actually goes down half a kilo (on his Goldmarket win at the Gold Coast), so it’s not too bad, but I still think 58½kg is a decent weight for anyone,” Edmonds said.
Tyzone has never been to Toowoomba, a track that has brought many a good horse undone over the years, but Edmonds is hoping the racing pattern can suit.
“Because it’s uphill and downhill, horses can run on there. They did at the midweek meeting,” he said.
“So if he gets that same nice run he’s had in his last two runs, he’s going to be one of the ones finishing off late.
“I’m just hoping he gets around there OK.”
Even without having to carry top weight, Tyzone will still be in elite company if he trumps the locals in the Listed race over 1200m tomorrow.
At 58.5kg, it would be the biggest weight any horse has carried to win a Weetwood since Kidman’s Cove in 1997.
Before him, Seawinne (60kg in 1995) and Tiny’s Finito (59kg in 1991) also lumped big imposts to win.
Since Kidman’s Cove, Jumbo Prince, who deadheated two years ago, has the biggest weight at 57kg.
Edmonds wasn’t overly confident of Tyzone’s Goldmarket chances first-up at the Gold Coast a fortnight ago but said the extra seven days due to the postponement of the race helped the horse overcome his reservations.
“I know a week doesn’t sound like a long time but it’s an extra two gallops and it did help,” he said.
Tyzone is a $7 chance in Ladbrokes’ market, with the Ben Currie-trained Mishani Hustler favourite at $3.20.