The sole black-type race on the Toowoomba Cup Day card in Queensland on Saturday is the Toowoomba Weetwood Handicap 2018, a capacity field engaged for the autumn sprint on the Darling Downs.
Former Victorian Ruettiger (inside) is the market mover in 2018 Weetwood Handicap betting at his new Toowoomba home track this Saturday in Queensland. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
It is shaping-up as a wide open affair for the always-popular Listed $150,000 Toowoomba Weetwood Handicap (1200m), which is set to jump as Race 8 at 4:42pm (AEST).
A full 14 hopefuls plus five emergencies are engaged in the Weetwood Handicap field this season and six of those are under $10 for the win through Ladbrokes.com.au.
Narrow favourite in Weetwood Handicap betting at $3.40 and drawn the inside alley with barrier one is the flying local Kevin Kemp-trained Love Conquers All four-year-old Mr Marbellouz.
The bookies are taking no chances with this in-form Toowoomba track specialist who comes off four straight victories, the latest three of which were at Doomben, despite the fact Mr Marbellouz is the second emergency.
His final lead-up into Saturday produced a two and a quarter-length win over 1200m in Class 6 on March 24 and Mr Marbellouz is undefeated at his home track (3:3-0-0).
He gets things his way from the alley, has apprentice Jag Guthmann-Chester continuing his successful association in the saddle and also gets in on the 54kg minimum making him a hard to beat favourite.
Second elect at Weetwood Handicap odds of $4.40 is the also well-drawn Amanaat in gate four representing leading Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie.
The Per Incanto four-year-old is another last start Doomben winner having carried 52kg to an 1100m win late last month.
Two-from-two in easier company at the Toowoomba track, the gelding is also a dual winner over 1200m but will need to be on the improve going up two kilos for his first stakes assignment.
Currie has five final acceptors in the Weetwood Handicap, three of which are assured a run along with the first and third emergencies.
Along with Amanaat the other Currie-trained sprinters guaranteed a start are the widely-drawn roughie With A Promise ($71) and market mover Ruettiger ($5.50 into $4.50).
Jockey Jeff Lloyd retains the ride on Duporth six-year-old Ruettiger who is first-up after a notable time off in the paddock.
The galloper was last seen finishing second to Someday in Doomben’s Listed Bernborough Handicap (1600m) on December 30.
Formerly prepared by Anthony Freedman and then Lindsay Park, Ruettiger was transferred to Currie after that run and sees the Toowoomba for the first time under race conditions first-up on the weekend.
The gelding has a solid first-up record (6:2-0-2) and the 1200m fresh should suit against this grade with the minimum weight on his back.
The Currie-trained third emergency Publishing Power is the next best in betting at $6 despite the consistent four-year-old needing a number of scratchings to make the starting line-up.
He comes out of the same race as Saturday’s favourite Mr Marbellouz having run second at Doomben after two February wins over 1200m.
Unbeaten at Toowoomba where he boasts a flawless three-from-three record, should he gain a start on Saturday he will be racing at his home course for the first time since saluting by a runway five lengths over 1200m here with 59kg on his back on February 9.
Rounding out the single-figure Weetwood Handicap horses are the Bruce Hill-trained Gold Coast visitor Man Of His Word ($7.50) coming off a close fourth when only a half-length beaten in the Listed Goldmarket Handicap (1200m) at home on March 17 and the Tony Gollan-trained Hi I’m Back ($7.50) who has the second outside alley to overcome.
See below for the full Weetwood Handicap 2018 field and odds, betting open on the Toowoomba races this Saturday now at Ladbrokes.com.au.
