Wehlow to close career-best season on a high

By Jordan Gerrans

On the back of a career-best training season, Rockhampton’s Jared Wehlow is eager to add 2023 Northern Winter Carnival feature winners to his record-breaking campaign.

Wehlow trains out of Callaghan Park in Central Queensland and is putting the finishing touches on his finest year yet as a conditioner in the Sunshine State.

He has 45 winners to his name so far, with a number of opportunities to add to that before the season closes.

The 45 victories betters his previous highlight of 37 he yielded in the 2020-21 term.

It is the 35-year-old’s top campaign from a strike-rate perspective, as well, scoring at 21 per cent this season.

Wehlow has long been a major player in the Northern Winter Carnival and heads to Mackay this Friday with two live chances in their pair of features.

He presents with Savoury in the Mackay Newmarket while stable mate Quality Asset is shooting to win the H.L. Black Memorial Open Handicap over 1800 metres for the second consecutive year.

Savoury tracked eventual winner Roman Aureus into the race in the Rockhampton Newmarket last week.

The former Bjorn Baker-trained gelding drew nine of 10 at Rockhampton and put in a massive effort to even be in the finish after going back from the gate.

After drawing one for his Ooralea assignment on Friday, Wehlow expects Savoury will get his chance this time. 

“As he drew wide and does not have a lot of speed as it is, we had to go back and that was the hand we had to take,” the Callaghan Park-based trainer said.

“It is very hard to win a Newmarket when you are last – that is for sure.

“The barrier made that happen last week and I would like to think he can sit a little closer this week from a better gate. He certainly has the ability, he goes pretty good.”

Wehlow has booked Brisbane-based hoop Georgina Cartwright for the $75,000 Mackay feature.

Cartwright was in the saddle of Roman Aureus last Friday.

The son of Savabeel is only having his fourth start for Wehlow on Friday after previously doing his racing in Sydney at a city level.

Savoury was an online purchase by Wehlow and his clients and is likely to head to Townsville and Cairns for the remainder of the sprint races through the carnival.

“It is the best time of year to have a decent 'Open horse', he will travel the carnivals and go to Townsville and Cairns,” he said.

In the stayers ranks for Wehlow, Quality Asset has a stunning record at Mackay, only being beaten once from four attempts at the track. 

He won the H.L. Black Memorial – which is a key lead-in race to the Mackay Cup – last year as well as claiming the 2022 Mackay Amateur Cup.

The mile of last week’s Rockhampton Cup was a little short for Quality Asset so Wehlow opted to keep him fresh for the H.L. Black Memorial and then the Mackay Cup eight days later.

Like Savoury, Quality Asset has also drawn the inside alley, with Cartwright taking the job.

“He was probably a bit disappointing his first few starts this prep but he is an out-and-out stayer,” Wehlow said of Quality Asset.

“He does not race that well at Rocky compared to Mackay, for some reason the track suits him better there.

“He is getting up to a more suitable distance this week. This is a stronger edition of the race this year compared to last year.”

Quality Asset ran second in the Townsville Cup last year and is likely to travel up the coast in the coming weeks. 

As of Thursday afternoon, Quality Asset is rated a $7 chance in Friday’s race, with Savoury $14 with the TAB in the Newmarket. 

Mackay Turf Club president John Philps is expecting over 4,000 people on track on Cup day later this month. 

Mackay’s feature races for the carnival will be staged over two weekends, beginning with the $75,000 Mackay Newmarket Handicap over 1300 metres on Friday. 

The following Saturday, the $150,000 Mackay Cup will be run over 2000 metres, along with the Magic Millions Whitsunday Guineas over 1560 metres.

“The carnival period in Mackay is always eagerly awaited in Mackay as trainers prime their horses for the events with additional prize money put on offer from Racing Queensland and the sponsors," Philps said. 

“The best jockeys and horses come up to the area to fight it out for the spoils.”