Bart Sinclair's Toowoomba Preview - 4 March, 2022

 
South-east Queensland’s “spin the wheel” weather approaching the weekend is giving trainer Chris Anderson some anxious moments.

Anderson has the very much in form Profit primed to extend his winning run in the $130,000 Tattersall’s Members Cup over the extended distance of 1625 metres following the transfer of the meetings from Doomben to Toowoomba tomorrow.

The forecast is for further storm activity in random places. Clifford Park received 20mls of rain on Thursday night and the track was downgraded to a Soft 7.

But if no further rain arrives Toowoomba officials are confident the track rating will get back to the Soft 5 range.

Doomben course manager Ross Smith has recorded just over 800mls in the past week. The ground is saturated.

Anderson has Profit in a sweet spot at present but he does not believe Profit would be as effective in heavy conditions.

“I’m keen to run. There is good money on offer in this race and I want to make sure he is spot on for a feature race over 1800 metres at the Gold Coast in a fortnight,’’ Anderson said. “I’m much happier it is not at Doomben on a Heavy 10 for him.’’

Sea Raider’s trainer John Gilmore would be of another mind. Sea Raider is unbeaten in three runs on heavy tracks and any improvement in the Toowoomba track would be to the detriment of his chances.

Dreamreacher will be an interesting runner if he travels to Clifford Park. He has raced only once at a mile and performed well when second at Eagle Farm back in December 2019.

The Snitzel six-year-old has unleashed booming finishes to win his past two starts. His normal pattern to settle well off the pace will not be suited if the tempo is not solid.

Toowoomba Turf Club CEO Lizzy King said BRC members would be welcomed to the course on presentation of their current BRC badge.

A lot of trainers will echo Anderson’s willingness to run at Toowoomba with an eye to the Gold Coast on March 19 when the feature races – the Aquis QTIS Jewel for two-year-olds and the Aquis QTIS Jewel for three-year-olds - are both worth $500,000.

The juveniles get an opportunity to earn a spot in the Jewel Prelude for the colts and geldings and another for the fillies.

Three-year-olds can qualify for the Jewel in the Prelude for that age group.

Final scratchings will have a big bearing on markets for these important lead-up races.