Honey Toast on target for Toowoomba Cup, says Jim Byrne

JIM Byrne declared beaten favourite Honey Toast spot on for the Toowoomba Cup, despite finding My Quilter too nippy over the Doomben mile on Saturday.

My Quilter (Sarah Eilbeck) winning at Doomben. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography.

JIM Byrne declared beaten favourite Honey Toast spot on for the Toowoomba Cup, despite finding My Quilter too nippy over the Doomben mile yesterday.

Byrne said Honey Toast was now looking for the middle distance trip of the Cup, a race trainer Ben Currie has been eyeing for months.

“I knew at the 700m I needed to get going because ... the leader was going to take some running down,” Byrne said. “He’s fit and ready for that longer trip now.”

Winning trainer Stewart Mackinnon is going to give his veteran My Quilter a shot at stakes grade at Caloundra in three weeks after he surprised most with his all-the-way win.

Mackinnon praised apprentice Sarah Eilbeck for her well-judged ride in which My Quilter sprinted away from Honey Toast and Lock’s Legend after looking under siege early in the straight.

“I thought there was still some improvement but with 51kg, I told Sarah to take her time getting there and hopefully get a couple of cheap sectionals,” Mackinnon said. “I know it’s a step up in grade, but we might give that Listed race (Tails Stakes) a shot on his home track now.”

Trainer Brian Smith will head to a rematch against My Quilter with Lock’s Legend, who loomed as the likely winner on the home turn, but didn’t finish off. To Smith’s astute eye, Lock’s Legend may have got his tongue back and he is likely to apply a tongue tie next start.

“He was going to win easily, but then he just stopped. That tells me he probably wasn’t getting enough air, so I will put the tongue tie on next time. He’s going great,” Smith said.

Groundhog day continued in the two-year-old ranks with the John Zielke stable landing another Saturday winner.

Spot The Diff made it three on end when she dived through late for Luke Dittman in the Superman colours. She is now headed to Toowoomba for the Dalrello Stakes in a fortnight.

“We’re having a sensational run at the moment,” Zielke said.

Liam Birchley said eye-catching runner-up Crack Me Up is looking for more ground and will be better suited on a bigger track. “He’s definitely got a future,” Birchley said.

# THE Peter and Paul Snowden show rolled on in Brisbane with El Sasso’s well backed win, and Damian Browne is keen to keep his slot as their go-to man in Queensland.

“Not much went right for us in the run, but when you are riding their horses you just have so much confidence because you know they are always going to be spot on,” Browne said. “I will put my hand straight up any time they send one up here.”

El Sasso was one of the worst results on the day for UBET, who reported the $4 to $3.30 move an almost one out go on the race.

Gollan serious about Casual tilt

IN-FORM Casual Choice is shaping as trainer Tony Gollan’s best hope of landing a maiden win in his hometown Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba after completing a hat-trick at Doomben on Saturday.

Gollan is desperate to win the Weetwood and Casual Choice is set to be his No. 1 in the race — on one proviso.

“He’s a barrier horse. So he needs to draw a gate. I would love to win the Weetwood, I’ve never won one, but if he doesn’t draw a gate he won’t run,” Gollan said.

Casual Choice, left, is likely to target the Weetwood Handicap in Toowoomba. Picture: Grant Peters

Kraftwerk is another potential contender for the stable, with Gollan believing he will improve off yesterday’s tough run over 1350m.

“That’s the outer limit of his distance range. Going back to 1200m will suit him better next time,” he said.

Fiery Heights was rewarded for his recent consistency, fending off Havasay to land a deserved Saturday three-year-old win.

“It wouldn’t have wanted to be any further, but (runner-up) Havasay is a smart horse and I think the form will be strong out of the race,” trainer Toby Edmonds said.

Jockey Jeff Lloyd said Fiery Heights was able to “get into a better rhythm” up to 1350m and dug deep.

Originally published as Honey Toast on target for Toowoomba Cup, says Jim Byrne