Trainer Brain Wakefield has given Kelvin Wharton a vote of confidence by retaining him on promising galloper Siliqua at Doomben.
Wharton splits his time between riding in Brisbane and the provincial meetings but he gets a steady stream of winners including the recent Mackay Newmarket and Sunshine Coast Anniversary Cup on Daph N Alf.
He rode Silqua when the gelding came from second last to demolish a restricted Sunday class race at Doomben two weeks ago.
Wakefield had no hesitation in booking Wharton again for Siliqua’s Saturday debut in the Tony Stephens Air Con Hcp (1200m).
“It is a great mystery to me why Kelvin doesn’t get more rides in the city. He does what he is told and he gives them every chance,” Wakefield said.
“He has been riding for me since I had a good horse called Frosty and that is going back a good few years now.”
Wakefield is confident Siliqua, the winner of three of his six starts, can measure up to Saturday racing.
“He won very impressively last time and beat Grenache who has since won well in Saturday class at Doomben,” he said.
“I think that race will prove a very good guide for the future.”
Meanwhile, stablemate Denarius will start at Doomben on Saturday week after being scratched on Wednesday.
“He was scratched because of a wide barrier. I will enter him for a 1200m Class 6 and provided he draws well he will start then with Kelvin as the jockey,” Wakefield said.
