Rare trip to Kilcoy for Rockhampton's Jared Wehlow

By Glenn Davis

Rockhampton trainer Jared Wehlow travels to most parts of the state to find a winner and will make a rare journey south to saddle up three starters Kilcoy on Tuesday.

Wehlow is enjoying another successful year, after training 20 winners from 73 starters this season, and will head to Kilcoy for only the third time.

“I’ve only been to Kilcoy twice before and both times we’ve had no luck,” Wehlow said.

“I’m mainly going there this time to find a distance race for Bondurant and the other two have been racing well so they’re worthy travelling companions.”

Bondurant has been racing consistently with a win and three placings in seven starts this campaign and lines up in the Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1900 metres.

The five-year-old is coming off a last start win over 1800 metres at Mackay last month when he strolled home by more than five lengths.

“I’ve been trying to find him a distance race but there’s none for him back home,” Wehlow said.

“He won easily over 1800 metres in Mackay last start and he’ll have no trouble getting the extra distance.

“He’s an out and out stayer but it’s been hard to find a suitable race for him.”

Bondurant was formerly trained by Stephen Lee in Ballina and has started only seven times fort Wehlow for a win and three placings.

“Stephen Lee used to train him but I got a phone call out of the blue one day from his owner Darren Dollimore asking me if I’d take him on,” Wehlow said.

“I’ve never trained for him before and after this race I want to step Bondurant up in distance further.”

Wehlow also has high hopes for stable mates So Noble in the Benchmark 58 Handicap over 800 metres and Fresh Prince in the Class 2 Handicap over 1500 metres.

All three Wehlow starters will be ridden by jockey Ryan Wiggins, who has struck up a formidable partnership with Wehlow in recent times.

Wiggins is the most used jockey by Wehlow with 44 rides for nine wins.

But, local Rockhampton jockey Ash Butler has a better record with 17 wins from 40 rides for the stable.

So Noble won at Moranbah over 1000 metres on November 5 before an unlucky third in a 1000 metre Class 1 at Roma on November 19.

“He’s a short course specialist but he came out of the barriers a bit slow at Roma,” Wehlow said.

“He won easily at the start before at Moranbah and he should race well again.”

French Prince won decisively last start in a 1300 metre Class B race at Thangool, which convinced Wehlow the four-year-old was worthy of a trip away.

“He shows more ability in his track work than in his races and I’m sending him down to build his confidence up,” Wehlow said.