Wangaratta trainer Craig Weeding has two chances in $250,000 Country Mile Final at Caulfield
Wangaratta trainer Craig Weeding is banking on the knowledge gained in last year’s race in his latest crack at Saturday’s $250,000 Country Mile Final at Caulfield.
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The float trip home to Wangaratta could seem like a short hop should trainer Craig Weeding claim Saturday’s Country Mile Series Final (1600m) at Caulfield.
Weeding has no hesitation in putting team members on a float for hours to chase winnable assignments on either side of the Victoria/NSW border but the chance to race for $250,000 was irresistible.
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Weeding will run consistent performers Fox Appeal and Flycatcher in this year’s edition of the feature, aiming to have more luck than last year.
Fox Appeal drew terribly, jumping from barrier 14 when beaten 4½ lengths in last year’s Country Mile Final.
But Weeding said the now five-year-old was a better horse this time around.
“I think he’s going a bit better than last year,” Weeding said.
“He got a long way back last year but he’s racing a bit closer in his races these days so he might be around the mark if he draws a gate.”
Fox Appeal won at Benalla two runs back before qualifying for Saturday’s final with his second to Call Him Iggy on his home track last time out.
“He’s going as well as he’s ever gone I’d suggest,” Weeding said.
“He’s matured quite nicely.”
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Weeding will test Flycatcher over 1600m for the first time in the feature contest.
The five-year-old son of Epaulette has placed behind in-form provincial gallopers Dirty Grin and Mixxit at his last two runs.
But it was Flycatcher’s last run over 1400m at Bendigo that convinced Weeding to give the gelding a crack at 1600m.
“I thought it would be a good time to find out if he would get a trip early in his prep while he’s fresh and he ran on really well,” Weeding said.
“Again, the mile is a query but I was happy with how he ran out the 1400m and I think he should run out a strong mile.
“He’s badly weighted but when you get a chance to run for a quarter of a million dollars, you do it, and he can always go back to (Benchmark) 64s if he doesn’t measure up.”
Originally published as Wangaratta trainer Craig Weeding has two chances in $250,000 Country Mile Final at Caulfield
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