Go Wandji on track for city hat-trick

By Glenn Davis

Rising Toowoomba star Go Wandji looks set for a hat-trick of city wins when he makes a low-key mid-week appearance at Doomben on Wednesday.

Go Wandji emerged as a possible Queensland Winter Racing Carnival contender next year following a sensational Doomben win last month, before backing it up with another impressive victory at Eagle Farm on November 6.

The four-year-old steps out in the Class 4 over 1350 metres in his bid for a sixth win from only eight starts.

His only two defeats were when he was placed at Eagle Farm in August and a shock defeat behind the promising Festival Prince at Warwick on October 9.

Trainer Tom Dougall has surprised many with his decision to lower his sights by heading to the city mid-weeks with the son of Wandjina.

“There’s a few reasons we’re going on Wednesday and I’m mindful of the fact he’s been in work a long time,” Dougall said.

“There’s no signs of him training off yet but he’ll need to go for a break shortly.

“He hasn’t taken a backward step since his last win and should race well again.”

Dougall has his mind on next year’s Queensland Winter Racing Carnival sprints, including the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm in June.

The $250,000 The Gateway over 1400 metres at Eagle Farm on December 11 carries a ballot free entry into the Stradbroke and is the race Dougall hopes to target this campaign.

“He might, only might, go for The Gateway next start and that would be one of the easier ways to get into the Stradbroke,” Dougall said.

“The Gateway might be too strong for him but who knows?

“But by going that way we won’t be knocking him around too much before he spells.”

Dougall’s father, John, paid only $20,000 for Go Wandji who went through the Scone Inglis sales in 2019.

Since Go Wandji’s dynamic Doomben win, Dougall has fielded offers from Hong Kong and in Australia to sell him but at this stage the plan is to continue to race him themselves.

“If it was a pure business decision, we’d probably sell but he’s Dad’s horse and he’s 75 and is having a lot of fun with him,” Dougall said.