Tony Sears and Ben Currie toast of Toowoomba after big-race double

CELEBRATIONS carried on well into the night in Toowoomba after local trainers Tony Sears and Ben Currie landed the big feature double on Saturday.

CELEBRATIONS carried on well into the evening in Toowoomba on Saturday, with local trainers Tony Sears and Ben Currie landing the big feature double and gun apprentice James Orman also sharing the spoils.

The Toowoomba Cup went according to script, with Currie’s emerging stayer Honey Toast a class above his rivals.

Forty minutes later, Sears and Orman repelled the Sydney challenge of Bjorn Baker’s Coolring when Choice Bro came from a clear last to round up his rivals in a Weetwood Handicap upset. Sears has hovered on the periphery of Weetwood success for years.

Finally, Choice Bro was able to provide him with “close to” his best moment in racing with victory in the famous Toowoomba feature, with stablemate Pillar Of Creation running third.

“I got a great thrill out of that,” he said, having trained the second and third place­getters 12 months ago and a number of other near misses over the years.

“My only disappointment is that my kids Michael and Madison weren’t here to see it. Michael’s in London and Madison is in Roma. She thought she would jinx us if she came, but I know they will both be watching.”

It was a profitable win in more ways than one for Sears.

“I bought him in the calcutta last night,” he said. “I thought he had a great chance. His first-up run was enormous and second-up he was OK. I knew he would be suited by this race today and it’s one of the biggest thrills I’ve had, if not the biggest.”

It was also a career highlight for Orman, who only lost his apprentice’s claim last week.

“I guess that has to be close to the career highlight,” he said. “This is the start of the winter carnival and I’m very pleased to notch an early feature win. The Weetwood is the race all the young guys talk about winning up here, so it’s very satisfying to have done it.”

The Weetwood was a welcome change of luck for bookies, who had been hammered by Honey Toast’s win in the Toowoomba Cup and heavily backed runners Sarisara and Brooklyn Storm winning.

Trainer Tony Sears and his wife Leigh show off the spoils of Choice Bro’s win in the Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba on Saturday. Picture: Grant Peters

Earlier, Too Good To Refuse showed his class in winning the Toowoomba Guineas.

Trainer Desleigh Forster was undecided all week whether Too Good To Refuse should take his place in the race, but fortunately for her and connections, the coin landed the right way up.

Ridden patiently by Ryan Wiggins, Too Good To Refuse showed his appreciation for the set weight conditions in gunning down Havasay in the final 150m.

“He’s had no luck at all the whole way through with barriers and a couple of bad rides,” Forster said. “I’m happy for Ryan. He’s been working hard and some time ago I said the ride was his for the whole carnival if he wants it. It’s a pleasure to train him. He’s a really nice horse.”

Lloyd cracks mile-wide smile

JEFF Lloyd tipped Crack Me Up to develop into a class miler in the wake of Saturday’s Listed Dalrello Stakes at Toowoomba, setting up a winter carnival tilt.

Crack Me Up’s win was aided by the hectic speed duel set up front by Love Spy and Happy Event, with stewards launching an inquiry into the tactics adopted.

Trainer Liam Birchley is now lining up potential Group race options for Crack Me Up, who lived right up to his slashing first-up run a fortnight earlier at Doomben.

Birchley has a willing ally in experienced jockey Lloyd.

Jeff Lloyd believes Crack Me Up won’t have problem running 1600m. Picture: Jono Searle

“He’s improving a lot and learning all the time. He put himself in the right spot and was a lot more professional today,” Lloyd said. “He will get up to a mile no problem.

“He has all the assets to appreciate that distance. He has no right to be beating these speed horses and it’s just because he has a lot of class on those.”

Birchley said a campaign was yet to be mapped out, but this win assured it will now be aimed at reaching races such as the Sires and ultimately the J. J. Atkins over 1600m at Eagle Farm on June 11.

Originally published as Tony Sears and Ben Currie toast of Toowoomba after big-race double