For a Toowoomba trainer, winning the Weetwood Handicap is akin to winning an Everest.
It’s the hometown race that every Toowoomba trainer craves.
But for Pat Webster, he’s never had a runner in the time-honoured feature sprint.
That will all change in late September with Webster planning to saddle up last-start winner Restonica and Saturday Doomben contender Esjay for a crack at the Listed Weetwood Handicap (1200m) which has received a prizemoney uplift to $200,000 this year.
“I’ve never had a runner in the Weetwood, I haven’t had one good enough to get in it,” Webster said.
“It looks a nice sort of race for Restonica and Esjay this year and they won’t have to travel to race in it, so that’s a big thing.
“If it got wet, it would probably help Esjay whereas Restonica doesn’t want it as wet.
“You will see Esjay race this Saturday and then Restonica will race Saturday week and then the plan will be to freshen both of them up for the Weetwood.”
Restonica did the business at Doomben last Saturday and seven days later it is time for Esjay to shine.
Esjay had a terrific but luckless campaign in the Queensland winter carnival which included finishing eighth in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 but beaten less than four lengths by fairytale winner Rothfire.
The five-year-old gelding has never raced over further than 1400m but that will change at Doomben on Saturday.
Esjay is rated a $5 chance on TAB fixed odds in the Open Handicap over 1615m.
“I have been very keen to try him at the end of this current preparation over the 1600(m) to give us a guide whether he could run it or not,” Webster said,
“I think 1600(m) will suit him, he’s a very clean-winded horse, and he has had some tough runs over 1400m and kept going at the end of them
“I don’t think he’s had a lot of luck this preparation, even in Doomben 10,000 he didn’t had a trouble free run and I think he should have finished closer.
“He started from barrier 16 in the Eye Liner and I know there were a lot of unlucky horses in that race, but he was certainly one of them.”
