Mitch Beer’s love of yum cha lands Mnementh in Toowoomba for Weetwood Handicap

Mitch Beer could have sent Mnementh around in high level races in Sydney but opted for the Weetwood Handicap instead as he seeks the right race for his stable star.

Some trainers look for flash facilities or close proximity to the races when choosing where to send their horse while travelling.

Mitch Beer landed on a fellow yum cha enthusiast when sending Mnementh up from his Kembla Grange base to Queensland to race in the Listed Weetwood Handicap (1200m) at Toowoomba on Saturday.

The larrikin trainer is renowned on social media for his love of Chinese dinners and said his miracle horse Mnementh will be right at home at John Smerdon’s Gold Coast stable, while he also does a rain dance to bring on a wet track on Saturday.

With a high rating, Beer has been forced to get creative when it comes to finding a race for his stable star who has almost racked up $700,000 in prizemoney for connections.

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“His rating is pretty high, it is easy to go and run him in a nice race in Sydney or Melbourne but to be honest he would probably get his arse handed to him at this time of year,” Beer said.

“You have to look far and wide and I think it is a terrific race, he gets in with 57.5kg, it’s not an easy race but it is a lot easier than what he would face down south.

“He has been a marvel really, we have climbed some mountains with him and he has had more problems than me, but he has a lot more ability, thank god.

“It is exciting, the club have been getting around us and honestly after I accepted with him, I had four or five trainers or studs reach out saying they could look after the horse.

“We are rapt to be a part of their big day, it is a bloody good race which has stood the test of time with some good horses.”

Mnementh is a leading contender in the Weetwood Handicap. Picture: Brett Holburt/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Beer has a longstanding relationship with veteran Gold Coast trainer John Smerdon and said he is the perfect man to handle Mnementh when he gets sent north to Queensland.

“I have sent him up to John Smerdon on the Gold Coast, so I rang up to check on him and I could hear some plates rattling in the background, he was at yum cha,” Beer laughed.

“So I knew straight away the horse would feel right at home with a trainer that loves yum cha as much as me.

“I could hear the plates straight away, I know that noise well, so I asked him how the horse was and he said he was good, with me knowing full well he was out for lunch.

“ ‘Donga’ and I have a great relationship, I sent him up Hardware Lane, which I am still in the ownership of.

“I will probably drive from the Gold Coast to Toowoomba on the day, but who knows if he manages to win, it wouldn’t be the first time I have slept in the back of a rental car.”

Mnementh is a well-supported $12 chance in betting.

Originally published as Mitch Beer’s love of yum cha lands Mnementh in Toowoomba for Weetwood Handicap