Dean Weller looking forward to show racing return

By Jordan Gerrans

For long-time driver and trainer Dean Weller, there is nothing quite like show racing.

After not being able to make it to the track at Warwick last week when the show racing campaign kicked-off, the 57-year-old will be front and centre on Saturday afternoon at the Toowoomba Showgrounds.

The Gundiah-based Weller has been competing on the show circuit in the Sunshine State since he first took out his licence back in 1999.

He heads to the Darling Downs on Saturday with two runners across the three heats - Courageous Leo and Rafferty Delights.

Both standardbreds were winners at the Ekka in Brisbane last year.

While the Toowoomba show racing scene is a little lower key than the bright lights of the Ekka, Weller says show racing is a unique experience.

“It is a better atmosphere than going to the races,” Weller said.

“The racing is closer to the public.

“It is grassroots really as that is where it all started from at the show racing.

“It is good for these horses that need a couple of extra runs before they go to registered races, it is a good hit-out for them.”

Fields of six are set to contest the three heats from Toowoomba on Saturday.

The Richard March, Andrew Millard and Lola Weidemann stables all won races at Warwick last Friday night.

Weidemann will again be represented at Toowoomba on Saturday.

Veteran gelding Courageous Leo finished third in the Ekka Final in the middle of last year while Rafferty Delights went around in the Consolation event.

They both won races leading into the Finals.

The Weller barn took four horses to the Ekka last year.

Courageous Leo is first-up since December of last year – when he last raced at Marburg – as he resumes at Toowoomba.

Weller feels the Weidemann-trained Kid Montana will be the one to beat on Saturday.

The gelding was racing at Menangle up until the middle of last month and is a 27-time career winner.

“Courageous Leo might need the run but if he had a couple of runs prior then I think he would be hard to beat even if he is off 10 metres,” Weller said.

“Rafferty Delights is 12 years old but he is a good standing start horse.

“The horse of Lola Weidemann’s off 30 metres, that is going to be very hard to beat.”

Weller has travelled around the world riding bulls before focussing his attention on the pacers.

He believes show racing is a key element of harness racing as a sport.

“Shows are important for the industry as you are getting harness racing in front of the public’s eye again,” he said.

“You have families there and especially at the Brisbane show, you have 4000 people there at night watching the races.

“It creates interest in the sport.

“They get excited about watching the races and realise how much their family like it.”

The trainer and driver enjoyed professional racing success earlier this month when Showem Simon won on a Monday night at Redcliffe.

Points are earned across the show series at every track that go towards the qualification for the Showcase Final at Redcliffe on June 16.