As around a dozen Queensland-trained horses prepare for southern spring campaigns the northern invasion by NSW country horses continues.
Saturday’s Doomben winner Uno Five was the fifth NSW country galloper to win a Brisbane metropolitan race since the start of the new racing season.
Uno Five will continue to race in Brisbane and has been nominated to back up on Saturday with his ultimate aim the Lismore Cup on September 25.
Gold Coast trainer Jeff McCarter has been called out of semi-retirement to help manage many of the NSW visitors in recent months and represented Cessnock trainer Jeremy Sylvester with Uno Five on Saturday.
“I have been busy of late, McCarter said.
“You will find more horses coming from New South Wales to race here in coming months.”
“There are suitable races for them here. Also the prize money is going up and it is very hard to beat the big stables in Sydney.”
Sylvester has entered four horses for Saturday’s Doomben meeting while Warwick Farm trainer Greg Hickman has nominated Lyric and Melbourne’s Leon and Troy Corstens have Under The Hat in a 1350m race.
Meanwhile, preparations continue for several Queensland horses heading to Sydney and Melbourne at the weekend.
Trainer Brian Smith had mixed luck with his team on Saturday but the win of Jetset Lad in the Sono Restaurant Open (1350m) was a highlight.
Jetset Lad will head to the Group Three Newcastle Cameron Handicap (1400m) on September 17 with his aim the Group One Epsom Hcp (1600m) on October 4.
Smith is also planning to take Kingdoms to the Group One Metropolitan on the same day.
Kingdoms was unsuited by the slow early pace in Saturday’s Courier Mail Taste Hcp (1600m) won by the Kelly Schweida-trained Epic who is also on a path to the Metropolitan. (2400m).
Sydney trip.”
