Former NSW trainer Marcus Wilson will saddle the first runners from his new Gold Coast stable at Doomben on Wednesday but there won’t be time for celebrating if any of the trio is successful.
Wilson, 25, transferred his team of 17 horses from Caloundra to the Gold Coast over the Easter weekend but the move was tinged with sadness following the death of his grandfather Karim Michael, 86.
“It was pretty hectic with the move to the Gold Coast over the weekend then my grandfather died in Inverell on Easter Sunday,” Wilson said.
“I’ve got 40 boxes next to the course and my first runners will be at Doomben on Wednesday.
“But I’ll be heading straight to Inverell after the races for the funeral on Thursday.”
Wilson’s three runners are Mik Yelrow in the The Good Guys Handicap (1020m), Eastern Dreams in the skyracing.tv Maiden Plate (2200m) and Floral Garden in the Wilston Grange AFC Maiden Plate (1020m).
Wilson believes all three runners have solid claims but last-start winner Mik Yelrow is the pick of the trio.
“I can’t fault Mik Yelrow’s form. He’s super fit and it was a good tough win from him at Doomben last start,” he said.
“From barrier one he’s a very good chance and he should get the run of the race.”
Wilson, who originally hailed from Inverell, also believes former Victorian Eastern Dreams and Floral Garden are both strong each-way chances.
Eastern Dreams failed in his first start for Wilson when he beat one runner home in a 1640-metre Maiden Plate at Doomben last week after transferring from Robert Smerdon’s stables in Victoria.
“It was a disappointing run. He got a long way back but he had no luck when a horse broke down in front of him,” he said.
“I’m taking the blinkers off him and we may ride him for speed.
“Floral Garden has a good each-way chance as well. She’s racing consistently.”
Wilson’s Gold Coast move will give him greater access to NSW Northern Rivers tracks as well as targeting Saturday races in Brisbane.
“I’ve got a lot of horses in my stable that are eligible for BOBS in NSW so from the Gold Coast I’ll easily be able to pop over the border for the Northern Rivers races,” he said.
“Another reason is that NSW will soon get a massive prizemoney boost so I’ll probably run a lot of my horses there on a Wednesday instead of Brisbane.”
Wilson, who has been training for only five years, has an excellent strike rate since relocating to Queensland with eight winners and 12 minor placings from his last 34 starters.
