Miss Joelene on trial for winter juvenile features

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Kelly Schweida will make a rare trip up the range to Toowoomba on Wednesday and hopes to return with Queensland Racing Carnival plans with promising youngster Miss Joelene.

Miss Joelene – a James Orman mount – tackles the QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap over 1100 metres while stable-mate Honkytonk Diva starts in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Benchmark 65 Handicap over 1200 metres.

Miss Joelene has only had two starts, winning on debut at Beaudesert in December, before stepping up sharply in class to finish fourth to the Les Ross-trained Mishani Royale in the Aquis Gold Pearl at the Gold Coast on January 7.

“I hardly ever go to Toowoomba but that’s how the programming has worked out and it’ll be a task for her to go up there first-up,” Schweida said.

“The top weight Tricketeer goes pretty good and looks the one to beat on his home track after running second in town at Doomben last start.

“My filly won a maiden at Beaudesert then went to the Gold Pearl and ran a good race for fourth.

“I reckon she’ll get further and possibly up to 1600 metres.

“If that’s the case and she wins or runs a good race I’ll take her along the traditional two-year-old path in the winter in races like the Sires Produce and J. J. Atkins."

Schweida trained Miss Joelene’s mother, Cellargirl, who won more than $264,000 in prize money with three wins and four placings from 17 starts.

Miss Cellargirl won a stakes race in the Listed Bill Carter as a two-year-old in 2017 and earned a trip to Sydney where she was placed behind Alizee in the Group 2 Tea Rose and Group 1 Flight Stakes at Randwick the same year.

Schweida also is hoping Honkytonk Diva can register a breakthrough win first-up.

Honkytonk Diva – a Ben Thompson mount – has placed in all three of her first-up starts but is yet to win.

The daughter of Under The Louvre hasn’t raced since beating two runners' home in the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate, which was won by the Richard and Will Freedman-trained Fashion Legend, at Doomben on December 31.

“She’s going really well and she’s been to Toowoomba and has the experience running there,” Schweida said.

“She ran third in a race up there during the winter last year and she races well first-up.

“There’s no plans mapped out for her and she’ll continue to target QTIS races.”