Team Geran saddling up live chances in Clifford Park features on Weetwood Handicap day

While Corey Geran is still relatively new to the training caper, the 26-year-old Toowoomba local is hoping to live out a childhood dream with a host of live chances in feature races on Weetwood day.

WHEN he was a little boy growing up, Corey Geran experienced first hand the magic of Weetwood Handicap day.

Now alongside mother Kylie, the up and coming trainer is set to make his mark on Clifford Park’s feature day.

The duo have a strong hand of four runners to target three of the day’s feature events, including a live chance in the $150,000 Audi Centre Toowoomba Weetwood Handicap (1200m).

It’s the sort of thing dreams are made of, and one the 26-year-old trainer is chasing this weekend.

“It is probably the best day of the year for us to race at home on this day,” Geran said.

“Growing up as a kid it was always something you’d go to as a social event.

“Being a local, it’s one of those days that has always had a feel to it. It used to be run at show time and was something that couldn’t be missed.

“To win a Weetwood is something I’ve always wanted to achieve. To win something like a Weetwood would be a great way to kick off a career at my stage.

“It would mean the world.”

Toowoomba trainer Corey Geran hopes to get his hands on the Weetwood handicap cup with Winside. Picture: Nev Madsen

He gets a golden opportunity to turn that dream into a reality with Winside set to line up in the event.

The five-year-old mare joined the stable late last year and hasn’t missed a beat, winning three races and a further eight minor placings from 14 starts north of the border.

“She’s a terrific mare that rarely runs a bad race. She hasn’t run a bad one since we’ve had her,” he said.

“Continually we’ve stepped her up in grade. She’s been stakes placed and has just been so consistent this whole time.

“I thought the Weetwood would be a bit of a concern running 1200 at Toowoomba, but the more I’ve got to know her, we’ve been training her a bit differently.

“She’s a horse that has the home-track advantage. If she can get a nice position she will finish very strong late if they put a good speed on.”

The $125,000 TAB Toowoomba Cup (2000m) is a race they targeted with Chocolatier last year, and the eight-year-old is again chasing a hometown cup.

The horse is majority owned by KO Racing, headed up by 27-year-old Kobie O’Brien, who Geran said has helped to bring new faces to racing.

Stephanie Lacy, jockey and trainer Corey Geran with Chocolatier, running in the Toowoomba Cup. Picture: Nev Madsen

“Kobie and I work well together. We’re good mates in business and out of it,” he said.

“We got together at a time when we were only small and he was starting up. We’ve gone from spending one or two thousand on a horse to now being able to spend 30 or 40 and syndicate them.

“You get like-minded people in horses. Brett Moody has been in it for 40 years, and when Demon Delivera won, he said he never had so much fun in his life. People really enjoy it.”

Demon Delivera will have the chance to deliver the ownership group another joyous occasion this week when taking on the $100,000 Magic Millions Garden City Guineas (1600m).

“We’ve got a good opinion of him,” he said.

“We think he’s a very nice horse moving forward. He was beaten a half-length by Spiritualised. Now he’s proven at the distance, he has to be a good chance.”

Team Geran is coming off the back of a standout year that almost saw them crack the half-century of wins, and Corey is hopeful it is just the start of things.

“We had something like 48 winners last season which is really good and double what we had the season before,” he said.

“Numbers aren’t huge for us, it’s about building up the quality and getting the results where we can buy a bit better horses and putting them in races they can win.”