Trainer Kelly Schweida’s ability to think outside the square could give him another winner at Ipswich.
The latest example of his clever thinking was last Saturday when he took handy restricted class horse Stella Ombra to win in Sydney.
The Brisbane trainer has made a habit of bobbing up in Sydney to win races most notably with stakes horses Better Than Ready and Miss Cover Girl.
“The prize money is good down there and sometimes there aren’t the right races in Brisbane,” Schweida said.
Schweida has carefully mapped out the campaign for Darktown Strutter who runs in the Bundamba Two-Year-Old Plate (1100m).
The Plate is one of the few juvenile features of the Queensland winter over a shorter course and always attracts a good field of local youngsters.
Schweida pinpointed the Ipswich race when Darktown Strutter ran a solid second in a trial at Doomben in mid-May.
“At her first start she was well beaten in Doomben two-year-old but she had a few little problems and we sent her for a spell to mature,” Schweida said.
“I have always had an opinion of her and I thought the Plate was an ideal race.
“But Ipswich is a tricky track so I decided to give her a chance to look at the track and took her there for a comeback run.”
Darktown Strutter won an 800m maiden by six lengths two weeks ago without being extended.
“She obviously handled the track. It is harder on Saturday but she hasn’t gone backwards,” Schweida said.
“She could win a nice race later on.”
