Trainers going to the Wel again in 2025 Winter Stakes
Heavy track specialist Welwal gets his chance to shine again this Saturday in the Winter Stakes (1400m), with trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr confident the conditions will suit him perfectly.
The six-year-old made a memorable debut for the stable when winning the Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last November on a heavy surface.
Since then, the stable has been chasing similar ground for the gelding to showcase his best.
“We have been hanging out for a heavy track for this horse,” Kent Jnr said.
“He won for the stable first start on a heavy track in the Group Three Kevin Heffernan and all prep we have somehow been missing out on wet ground.
“The horse is really going well. We’re tickled pink with the way he is training.”
Welwal caught the eye last start in the Civic Stakes (1400m) at Randwick, flashing home late to grab second after settling last.
Although burdened with 60kg on Saturday, the smaller field of 13 runners and a kind draw have connections hopeful of a big performance.
“Things didn’t work out his first two runs because he got too far back, but last start was telling of how well he has been going at home. He really hit the line strongly,” Kent Jnr said.
“The heavy track and smaller field on Saturday really brings him into it.
“He has a nice middle draw and if he can just hold a spot midfield, I know he’s got a lot of weight but he is a class horse and he seemingly loves heavy going.”
This will be Welwal’s fourth run of the preparation, though his campaign has been well spaced to keep him fresh.
“He’s has been prepared beautifully for this race,” Kent Jnr noted.
“He’s had three runs in and hasn’t been overtaxed. He is still on the way up and I reckon it’s a lovely race for him.”
Stablemate Grand Impact won’t line up in the Winter Stakes and instead heads north for the Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) on the Sunshine Coast.
Interested in betting on the Winter Stakes? Get the latest offers and markets at justhorseracing.com.au.
More Racing News
Thrilling Scone Cup success for in-form Hellsing
Trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, Hellsing has entered excellent shape and notched his finest victory yet in the Listed $200,000 Arrowfield Scone Cup (1600m) held at Scone on Friday.On his 10th run in a preparation exceeding six months, Hellsing is thriving more than ever, building on a Royal Randwick...
Trainer Moloney sees ongoing enhancement in Hearcomesthestar
Improvement has marked every preparation, and John Moloney, the trainer, expects additional development from Hearcomesthestar in her upcoming appearance at Flemington.From 28 races, Hearcomesthestar has notched six wins and eight places, but Stakes grade has proven challenging for her.The approaching six-year-old earned a Listed placing at Geelong earlier this year,...
Searle family from SA chasing Melbourne Cup dream with Sir Kingsford
Gary and Nichole Searle, together with their daughter Brianna Callanan, form a South Australian training outfit with ambitions for Sir Kingsford in the Melbourne Cup.A victory in Saturday's Listed Andrew Ramsden (3200m) at Flemington earns the winner a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption ahead of the big November event.Nichole Searle sampled...
Scone's Luskin Star Stakes sees Estadio Mestalla with tough weight
Trainer Joe Pride questions the two-kilo advantage given to a Group 1 winner over Estadio Mestalla in the Luskin Star Stakes, but trusts the steady gelding to deliver full commitment.At seven years old, he notched his top triumph in the prior year's Listed Winter Stakes (1100m) and must shoulder 61kg...
Barrier 18 no hindrance to Sequista's Scone return
Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou believe filly Sequista has the class for black-type success despite her tendency to undermine herself.Having notched stakes placings in the 2024 Inglis Nursery (1000m) and run near the placings in Tempted's Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m), the three-year-old targets another milestone in Saturday's Listed Denise's...
Flemington awaits Concord Connie's next bold move
Trainer Charlotte Littlefield hopes her talented filly Concord Connie can replicate her recent feat before entertaining grander aspirations.In her third race appearance at Flemington on Anzac Day, Concord Connie notched a breathtaking win by six lengths in sharp time.This Saturday, the filly heads back to Flemington to compete against the...
Dark Jewel Classic in sights for Harlem Queen
While Harlem Queen didn't sustain her early promise from age three, trainer Nathan Doyle feels confident after her trouble-free lead-up that she might restore reliable results.She returns Saturday in the Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) held at Scone, where despite preferring stamina tests ahead, barrier five positions her well for Doyle's...
Flemington run to decide Different Gravy's Queensland Derby chances
At Flemington, Different Gravy will put his Queensland Derby dreams to the test in upcoming action.Following a Listed triumph over 1800m at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day last year, trainer Henry Dwyer fixed his focus on the northern Derby.The Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm scheduled for May...
Abounding's scratch lets Napoleonic into Doomben 10,000 lineup
Confirmation has arrived that Napoleonic will join the Doomben 10,000 field, following Abounding's removal which opened the door for the colt in the elite Group 1 dash.Team members experienced a stressful seven days after the three-year-old earned second emergency status for the $1.5 million event, as reserve Beadman claimed a...
Snowden's stable loaded with top sprinters for feature clashes
Boasting a stable full of high-caliber sprinters primed for black-type action, trainer Peter Snowden enjoys the luxury of picking and choosing among several prestigious races.Just a couple of weeks earlier, Zealously claimed victory in the Hawkesbury Gold Rush (1100m), followed by King Of Roseau and Beadman grabbing interstate stakes wins...