Star Status in Townsville Cup bid

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Fred Wieland is hopeful Star Status can boost his chances of a Townsville Cup berth next month when the former Adelaide stayer goes for back-to-backs wins in the Magic Millions Rob Koch Memorial at Cairns on Tuesday.

Star Status was rated good enough to run in the Group 1 South Australian Derby in 2019, when previously trained by Leon McDonald and Andrew Gluyas, but never lived up to expectations, beating only one home.

Now a rising seven-year-old, Star Status is part of the Tom Hedley ownership group in Far North Queensland after having two starts for trainer Lauren Abbott in Brisbane.

Star Status broke through for his first Queensland win at only his third start for Wieland in a Benchmark 70 race over 1900 metres at Townsville last month.

Wieland believes Star Status will need to win to boost his ratings for the $150,000 Townsville Cup over 2000 metres on August 6.

“I’ve had no dramas since I’ve taken him over and if he can improve on his Townsville win last start, he’s a big chance of winning again,” Wieland said.

“He went into his last race a bit under done and it was a tough win.

“He’s a good clean winded horse and he’s improved a lot since then but he’ll probably need to win to lift his rating to get into the Townsville Cup.”

It could be a big day at Cannon Park for Wieland, who also is hopeful Prime Ruler can continue his march towards the $150,000 Cleveland Bay Handicap on Townsville Cup day.

Prime Ruler and stable mate El Of A Saga clash in the Open Handicap over 1250 metres.

Prime Ruler completed a hat-trick of wins when he downed Brilliant Mind over 1400 metres at Townsville at his last appearance on June 28.

It was his seventh win in 10 starts and Wieland is confident the four-year-old can make a successful Open company debut.

“His last win was in a Class 6 when he carried 60.5kgs and he drops 4.5kgs in this,” Wieland said.

“It’s naturally a step up in class but he should be hard to beat again.

“They had their chance to beat him last start at the weights but he was just too good for them.”

Wieland is also hopeful El Of A Saga will be competitive after finishing second to Dio D’oro on a heavy track at Cluden Park last Tuesday.

“El Of A Saga is a tough mare and she’s running at this stage but I can’t see her beating Prime Ruler,” he said.