Weetwood Day brings a 10-race program to Toowoomba this Saturday, featuring the Listed Weetwood, Toowoomba Cup and Toowoomba Guineas.
The track is rated a Good 4, and the rail is in the true position. The speed map and early positioning will be important, while the opening races should show how the track conditions are playing.
The Brisbane Lions are chasing a third straight premiership in the AFL Grand Final, but don’t let the footy take all your attention. There’s plenty to look forward to at Toowoomba, too.
Our race analysis looks at the key runners, main winning chances and best betting opportunities across the card. Here’s our preview for Weetwood Day.
THATS ARCHIES GIRL (6) gets back to her home track with a win looking close.
The Nick Keal-trained mare came from well back at the Gold Coast last start and finished strongly into fourth, beaten three-quarters of a length. The race pattern was against her, which made the effort even better.
She also recorded the fastest final sectionals in a stronger Doomben race three starts ago before closing well to place at Eagle Farm.
Blinkers go on for the first time, and Kelsey Lenton’s 3kg claim gives her a nice weight advantage.
| 6. Thats Archies Girl (9) J: Kelsey Lenton 55.5kg 23434 T: Nick Keal | |||
| Finished strongly from well back at Gold Coast last week when fourth, beaten just under a length by Exceed Perfection on good ground. That backed up her Eagle Farm third on soft ground, where she charged home from a long way back as the well-supported favourite. Blinkers go on and she looks ready to put it all together. | |||
BARBRAY (11) is going better than his recent placings suggest and can make amends here.
The Chris Waller-trained gelding won at the Sunshine Coast and Eagle Farm before finishing fourth, beaten 1.44 lengths, at Eagle Farm.
He was unlucky at Doomben last start. After looming strongly in the straight, he ran into traffic and went to the line untested, finishing fifth, beaten 1.33 lengths. He arguably should have won.
Taylor Marshall replaces Jake Bayliss, and from the inside barrier he should get the chance to settle closer and make the most of the light weight.
| 11. Barbray (1) J: Taylor Marshall 53.5kg 41145 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Had genuine excuses when fifth to Liberty Park in a Doomben Benchmark 78, beaten a length and a half after missing the start and being held up in the straight as favourite. His previous Eagle Farm fourth behind Livalittle was also sound, closing from well back on soft ground. Easier grade and light weight make him the benchmark. | |||
MADALSA (11) can bounce back after being held up at a crucial stage last start.
The Pat Webster-trained mare loomed before the straight but could not get clear until the chance had gone, eventually finishing third, beaten just under two lengths.
She is a proven course-and-distance performer, with three wins and four placings from 12 starts. One of those wins came three starts ago when she bolted in by 4.19 lengths.
She has been freshened for five weeks and has shown she can race well fresh. Les “Bubba” Tilley takes over and should position her close to the speed.
| 11. Madalsa (6) J: Les Tilley 57.5kg 24123 T: Pat Webster | |||
| Returns from a five-week freshening after a luckless Benchmark 58 third at Toowoomba, where she was favourite, raced keenly and was held up twice before finishing under two lengths away. She had earlier chased The Louvre here and is proven over this track and distance. Track-and-trip record helps, but this is stronger. | |||
YOWERI (7) has found a good home with Tony Gollan and brings strong recent form to Toowoomba.
The son of I Am Invincible has won four of his past eight starts, including last start at Ipswich, where he led over 1100m and held on to score by a neck.
The drop in distance suits. He also won over this trip at Ballina three starts ago.
Emily Pozman claims 3kg, and the inside draw should help her give him a sweet run near the lead.
| 7. Yoweri (1) J: Emily Pozman 57kg 13131 T: Tony Gollan | |||
| Arrives in consistent form, winning at Ipswich last start by half a length from Meet George after racing just off the lead. Two back he was beaten just under a length in a Benchmark 65 over 800m, with the stewards noting he had difficulty getting clear near the 400m. First Toowoomba run is the main unknown. | |||
IRAMA (5) is flying for Nick Keal and can make it back-to-back wins at his home track.
The five-year-old gelding was wide throughout over 1200m here last start but still swept around the turn and powered home to win by just under two lengths.
His Toowoomba record is hard to knock, with three wins and two seconds from six starts.
Gary “5G” Geran stays aboard and should have him positioned just off the speed before launching late.
| 5. Irama (7) J: Gary Geran 60kg x1821 T: Nick Keal | |||
| Put the race away well here last start, beating Kingsland by two lengths despite jumping awkwardly and racing wide. That backed up a solid second at this track when sent out favourite and beaten just under a length by Miss De Medici. Honest track profile keeps him in the minors. | |||
MEAN APPROACH (1) gets back to his preferred trip after a strong second behind Gram over 1110m at Doomben.
The Pat Webster-trained gelding was also narrowly beaten by Shelstein over 1200m two starts ago. He meets that rival slightly better at the weights this time.
He has won twice in town this preparation and remains unbeaten over this course and distance.
Webster has scratched him from the Weetwood to take on this easier race. Jace McMurray takes the ride and should have him close enough to strike.
| 1. Mean Approach (8) J: Jace Mcmurray 60kg 11722 T: Pat Webster | |||
| Has been holding form well, finishing second at Doomben last start after settling back and keeping on, beaten two and a half lengths by Gram in Saturday company. The run prior reads strongly enough too, beaten a nose by Shelstein in an NMW on soft ground. Wide draw is the query, but he has the profile to run well again. | |||
ESPERANZA (7) looks ready to run a big race fresh after a huge trial win.
The Rex Lipp-trained filly won her debut at Doomben before finishing second in both the QTIS Jewel 2YO Fillies Prelude and the QTIS Jewel.
She was last seen in the Spirit Of Boom Classic, finishing seventh, beaten 2.8 lengths, and has since had two trials.
Her latest trial was a standout. She led all the way and put 11 lengths on her rivals.
Angela Jones should be able to settle just off the speed and give her the chance to finish strongly.
| 7. Esperanza (5) J: Angela Jones 55kg 2267x T: Rex Lipp | |||
| Returns from a five-month break after finishing seventh in the G2 Spirit Of Boom Classic at Doomben, beaten just under three lengths by Vantorix after beginning awkwardly, being hampered and covering ground from the back. She was also favourite in the Listed Calaway Gal Plate two back but raced keenly on heavy ground. Clear danger if sharp enough at 1200m. | |||
LET’SFACETHEMUSIC (8) is racing in top form and looks ready to have a serious crack at Clifford Park’s biggest race.
The Corey & Kylie Geran-trained gelding was pressured in front over 1110m at Doomben last start but still kicked clear to win by 1.28 lengths.
He has already shown he handles 1200m, winning by 3.05 lengths over the trip at Doomben when second-up this preparation.
He can lead or take a sit, leaving Gary “5G” Geran with options. If the grey gets the right run, the Toowoomba crowd could be celebrating.
| 8. Let’Sfacethemusic (9) J: Gary Geran 54kg 55141 T: Corey & Kylie Geran | |||
| Returns from a five-week freshening after beating Fukubana by just over a length in a Doomben Class 6 as an odds-on favourite, travelling well before proving too good. His prior fourth to Epic Proportions in Open grade was better than it looked, having begun awkwardly, raced keenly and covered ground. Listed record is the knock, but he is in the mix. | |||
DIAMOND SHOW (12) arrives in great form and has a strong stable behind her.
Chris & Corey Munce know how to win the Toowoomba Cup, having taken it out with Walsh Bay last year and Military Gambler in 2023.
Their mare finished second by a head over this distance at Doomben last start. She was impeded but kept coming strongly behind Livalittle, who has won three of his past four.
She had already won back-to-back races over 2060m and 2200m at Doomben before that.
With just 52kg and Cejay Graham taking over from the apprentice, she should take some catching.
| 12. Diamond Show (9) J: Cejay Graham 52kg 22112 T: Chris & Corey Munce | |||
| Went within a neck of Livalittle in a Benchmark 85 at Doomben, with that second placing coming after minor interference and confirming her strong current form. She had won a Benchmark 80 over 2200m there two back, beating Fernao by a long neck. Airborne and only needs to hold her form to be right there again. | |||
OFF THE PRESS (8) brings strong Sydney form to Toowoomba and gets in with a light weight.
The Todd Smart-trained gelding closed well to finish second by a neck over 1100m at Rosehill first-up before running third, beaten 3.16 lengths, over six furlongs at Randwick.
He looks ready to peak third-up, and Anna Roper’s claim leaves him with only 53kg.
The Toowoomba rise is the question, but if he handles the track, he should be able to land on speed and get a lovely run.
| 8. Off The Press (3) J: Anna Roper 53kg 65×23 T: Todd Smart | |||
| Brings solid Sydney form into this after finishing third in a 3yo+ Benchmark 78 at Randwick, beaten just over three lengths by Decorum after being bumped at the start. He had charged home for second to Polyglot at Rosehill over 1100m the run prior. Third-up and drawn well, he looks the one they have to beat. | |||
Toowoomba Big Bets
See where the smart money is heading at Toowoomba on Weetwood Day.