Trainer Kelly Schweida was quick to defend Lennie’s Choice who bounced back to winning form at Doomben, seven days after failing as an odd-on favourite at Eagle Farm.
Schweida was confident Lennie’s Choice could improve on his tiring sixth as a $1.80 favourite at Eagle Farm a week earlier.
Lennie's Choice, Ric McMahon - Photo by Daniel Costello
“I thought once he gets back on a dry track he’ll show what I know he can do,” Schweida said.
“Everyone wanted to pot him but before today he had nine starts for five wins and a second so I’d like to have a few more like him.”
After his Eagle Farm defeat, Lennie’s Choice spent several days at Washpool Lodge, west of Brisbane, to freshen up.
“He was jumping out of his skin today, pulled a front plate off and still ran a class record,” Schweida said.
Jockey Ric McMahon said Lennie’s Choice had the race in his keeping when he was travelling comfortably in the lead.
“I knew when he let down at the 300 metres that nothing was going to catch him,” McMahon said.
“He’s got a real daisy-cutter action and just floats across the ground.”
Stewards questioned Oakey trainer Doug Johnson after $61 outsider Carn won the Coca-Cola Handicap (2100m), six days after finishing fourth at Dalby.
“His run at Dalby was a pearler because he drifted off the fence on the corner into the slower going and only felt the pinch in the last 50 yards,” Johnson said.
“He ran so well that was reason I backed him up today.”
