{"id":232207,"date":"2019-04-02T13:57:13","date_gmt":"2019-04-02T03:57:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=232207"},"modified":"2020-07-21T15:47:35","modified_gmt":"2020-07-21T05:47:35","slug":"the-upside-of-downs-racing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2019\/04\/02\/the-upside-of-downs-racing\/","title":{"rendered":"The Upside Of Downs Racing"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Waigani Drive (Phillip Wolfgram) created history in the 1992 Toowoomba Cup by becoming the first winner of a thoroughbred race run under lights in Australia (Photo: Three Way Photos)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Gunsynd's<\/a>April 2, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

Saturday, April 6 is Toowoomba\u2019s red-letter day for 2019: Clifford Park\u2019s upcoming stand-alone feature card.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And given its proximity, it’s likely to be of interest to the South Burnett fraternity.<\/p>\n

After the field contesting the $150,000 Audi Centre Weetwood Handicap leaves the back straight, it will pass by the source of the listed event\u2019s name.<\/p>\n

Weetwood House was built adjacent to the course in 1888 for Richard Scholefield, an early stalwart of the Toowoomba Turf Club.<\/p>\n

The $150,000 TAB Toowoomba Cup will also be decided at the gala meeting.<\/p>\n

This staging marks the centenary of what could be termed continuous Cups – versions earlier than 1919 had been temporary in nature.<\/p>\n

History was made on March 28, 1992 during a program that had kicked off in daylight. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Waigani Drive, who beat Full Suit in the Toowoomba Cup in track record time, was the first winner of a thoroughbred race run under lights in Australia.<\/p>\n

Toowoomba trainer Michael Flanigan was the Church Parade (GB) gelding\u2019s early educator.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, soreness plagued a number of attempts to get the bay with a name derived from a road in Port Moresby to the track.<\/p>\n

After an eternity in the paddock, Waigani Drive was then a fluke $100 buy for Kumbia horseman Alexander (Sandy) Lennox.<\/p>\n

Birdsville was the initial target that he, along with his wife Pam and Mount Isa\u2019s Ian and Eileen Steffen, had in mind for their new unraced purchase.<\/p>\n

The career debut at Kumbia at age five was followed by several outings before things clicked and Waigani Drive was on his way to picking up more than $130,000 in stakes, courtesy of a 10-12-6 scoreline.<\/p>\n

Testament, Church Parade\u2019s best son, won the middle-distance Guineas at Auckland and Waikato.<\/p>\n

Planet Kingdom and Alcimedes appear on Waigani Drive\u2019s maternal side.<\/p>\n

The sires collectively produced the likes of Ming Dynasty, Mighty Kingdom, Our Planet, Galilee, Divide and Rule, Silver Knight and Prince Grant.<\/p>\n

Lennox, a builder by trade, was an analytical horseman with polocrosse and New Zealand stud experiences to draw on. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Waigani Drive loved his South Burnett environment and made himself one of the household.<\/p>\n

\u201dBobby\u201d flourished under a searching training regime that included mustering, and had a real affinity with Phillip Wolfgram, the apprentice whose silken rein work served the cause well.<\/p>\n

Flanigan did get to spend time in the Cup limelight.<\/p>\n

His charge Full Suit prevailed in 1993 while another lodger in Rue The Saint did likewise in 2004.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, Dutch Boy, Full Suit\u2019s full brother, shared that same exposure with his trainer Bruce McLachlan in 1994.<\/p>\n

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Weetwood House and Clifford Park Racecourse (Photo: Webster Cavanagh Real Estate)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

* * * <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Tale From The Past<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Back in the day, Bill Russell was a Weetwood hero.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Firstly, he was the winning hoop on Zoeller (1910) and King Gowrie (1913).<\/p>\n

He saddled up the winner Saliden, victorious in 1929, and the aptly named Happy Returns for his 1934-1936-1940 Weetwood treble.<\/p>\n

Although Oakey businessman Eddie Walker had no interest in horse-racing, he and a mate tried to buy Bachelor\u2019s Perrse to use as a private stallion.<\/p>\n

After they were promptly outbid, friends urged Walker to pick up a broodmare.<\/p>\n

Eventually Walker caved in and got Queen\u2019s Birthday for just 20 guineas.<\/p>\n

Unbeknown to him she was pregnant to Bachelor\u2019s Persse, and the result was Happy Returns.<\/p>\n

As fate would have it, Schoolmate, the runner-up in the 1936 Weetwood was raced by J. H. Walker, Eddie\u2019s brother.<\/p>\n

Schoolmate (Bill Briscoe) continued the siblings\u2019 rare run by taking out the 1937 Weetwood.<\/p>\n

Apprentice Neville Sellwood fluked the ride on Happy Returns in 1940. After arriving on course, Peter Morgan reneged on his booking and switched to Wiseland.<\/p>\n

The next year, Sellwood booted home Romero in the coveted sprint.<\/p>\n

* * * <\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This year, local stables are seeking their tenth straight Weetwood.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is to be hoped that the Cup, aided by a $50,000 increase in the purse, can soon regain its listed status.<\/p>\n

Recent additions to the honour roll have been quality performers.<\/p>\n

Pornichet, a million dollar earner, won the Doomben Cup at its next outing.<\/p>\n

Military Move, the Group One star in New Zealand and Hong Kong that banked $1,665,000, Cylinder Beach ($537,000 in just 19 starts) and the Iglesia gelding Humma ($514,000) have all been significant money spinners.<\/p>\n