Punt On The Weather Pays Off For Fred

Cairns trainer Fred Wieland is thanking the racing gods that he took a gamble on the weather and raced at Cluden Park on Friday.

Wieland made a 50-50 call on making the trip down the Bruce Highway after 140mm of rain fell at Cluden overnight.

He reaped the rewards with three winners.

The stable teamed with Sunshine Coast jockey Sean Cormack to win with Stadium Of Light, Corbusier and Foursomes.

Cormack made it four winners for the day – all in Tom Hedley’s colours - with victory on Tycoon Beau. 

Wieland said Friday night’s deluge almost swayed him to stay at home with a repeat of last week’s meeting abandonment on the cards.

“I was nearly going to ring up and scratch the lot when they said they had so much rain last night because we came down for practice last week,” Wieland said.

“I didn’t want to go through that again.

“Thank god we didn’t pull the pin and scratch them.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had a treble down here, but I thought I could win three races and the three have won.

“It’s been hard trying to train horses or place them for the last two months everywhere.

Wieland has trained for Tom Hedley for a number of years but this year has taken on more numbers for the north’s biggest owner with main trainer Roy Chillemi scaled back.

That has seen Wieland’s stable numbers swell to 16, including his own horses, with more in the paddock waiting to come into work.

His success on Friday continued a fruitful relationship with jockey Sean Cormack which began before last year’s Cairns carnivals.

“Sean came up last year when Jason Taylor got hurt and we struck up a good relationship, and we’ve gone pretty good since,” Wieland said.

“He rings up and takes my rides first which I like, he can ride light, so you’re not chasing all the time.”

South African-born Cormack, whose 1298 career wins includes 12 Group 1s in his home country, has mainly ridden in Cairns and Rockhampton since joining the provincial circuit, but is keen to chase more opportunities in Townsville.

“I enjoy my racing up here and for the guys I ride for. Everyone gets on really well and it’s a good atmosphere for me at this stage of my career,” Cormack said.

“I still have my horses I ride in Brisbane, and there’s one that might be racing in group races this year, Madame Lexus. 

“It was because of a trip to Rockhampton last year that I ended up on her.”

Comeback jockey Michael McDonald is no fan of the north’s summer, but he toughed out oppressive conditions at Cluden Park on Friday to land a timely winning double.

McDonald, who moved from Brisbane to Townsville late last year to relaunch his career, was in top touch winning on the Les Gordy-trained Reggie’s Boy and Turn Bird for Steven Royes.

“I’m still a bit fat at the moment (58.5kg). I’m going to the gym every day but just trying to get used to this humidity here is a struggle. It’s shocking and the rain won’t stop, but everyone’s in the same boat.

“I can’t wait until the cooler months come.

“It was extra good to get a double today. I was booked for Reggie’s Boy for Les Gordy and I thought he’d win. He was in the right race today.

“The ride on Turn Bird for Steven Royes in the last was a pick up ride. I’ve been riding a bit of work for Steven so hopefully it will lead to a few more opportunities.”

The 41 year-old moved to the city with his partner apprentice Melissa Campbell, who is currently out injured, because of the fierce competition in the jockey ranks in the south-east. 

He spent years out of the saddle after a battle with spiralling weight, but says he has a renewed zest for the game.

“I’m just easing my way back into it,” McDonald said.

“I rode in Melbourne for eight years and then decided to move back to  Brisbane to be closer to family. I didn’t really have any intentions of coming back to riding.

“I worked as a stable foreman for Michael Lakey for six years and my weight came down so I decided to have another crack.

“The break was good for me because I’ve come back pretty hungry.

“I’ve been fortunate and had good support locally and I go out to Mt Isa to ride for Tanya Parry and I don’t mind that. There’s no real pressure and there are great folk out there.”