Pillar Of Creation is set to break Tony Sears’ run of outs in the Listed $150,000 Weetwood Handicap, a year after the trainer is certain he should have first won the race.
Pillar Of Creation, one of three runners for Sears in Saturday’s race, originally raced in Melbourne but lost form, prompting owner David Moodie to send him to Queensland.
Since joining Sears’ Toowoomba stable the gelding has been a model of consistency winning, $200,000 prize money.
Pillar Of Creation will carry 57.5kg in the Weetwood, Queensland country racing’s biggest prize.
Sears said Pillar Of Creation had been frustrating during his early days at his stable, starting with last year’s Weetwood.
“He should have won as he ran into trouble on the home turn and then had no luck in the straight,” Sears said.
“Then through the winter and into the summer he raced well without any luck or a win.
“Of course it culminated when he won a stakes race at the Sunshine Coast only to lose it in a stewards protest.”
Sears gave Pillar Of Creation a break after his most recent win at Doomben on March 5.
“He has freshened up nicely and he went well in a jump-out last week. Brad Pengelly came up to ride him in the trial and he was happy,” Sears said.
To win the Weetwood has long been one of Sears’s main aims in racing and he has had several minor placings over the years.
“All Darling Downs trainers want to win the Weetwood,” he said.
Sears will also run another David Moodie horse, Hard Stride, first-up in the Weetwood.
“Hard Stride had some good Melbourne form and David (Moodie) thought the change of environment might see him regain it,” Sears said.
Sears’ third runner is Choice Bro who has been racing well in Brisbane but has drawn barrier 17.
