Racing is a religion for Dougall clan

By Glenn Davis

Racing is a religion for the Tom Dougall clan at Toowoomba and nearby Warwick holds a special place in their hearts.

Dougall and his parents originally hailed from Freestone, just outside Warwick, and it’s one of the reasons the family supports local racing in the area.

“It’s important to us that our purple and white colours reign supreme out there,” Tom Dougall’s wife Kate said. 

“Tom’s parents came out on a boat and first settled in Freestone.”

Dougall will make the trek down the road to Warwick on Tuesday hopeful of landing a double with his two starters - Mr Wandji in the Class 3 Plate over 1350 metres and Super Quick in the Maiden Plate over 1500 metres.

Dougall has a team of around a dozen in work and is helped around the stables on a daily basis by his three children, Zara. Riley and Libby.

All three attend St Joseph's College in Toowoomba and each afternoon help their father with stable duties.

“Racing is a religion for us,” Kate said.

“We live for racing and it’s in our blood.

“Libby has plans to go on to be a steward at some stage and she’ll carry the Dougall name into the next generation.

“Riley wants to be in the armed forces but he also wants to be involved in racing in some degree while Zara wants to be a school teacher.”

While none of the siblings have plans to train just yet, Tom Dougall is just happy to poke along and train winners.

Dougall, who is best known as the trainer of star sprinter Go Wandji, is hopeful Mr Wandji can break through at his third start this campaign.

Mr Wandji has started 14 times for three wins and four placings and is coming off a second to Super Duck in a 1200 metre Benchmark race at Warwick on May 9.

“He likes Warwick and has won there,” Dougall said.

“It was a good effort from him when he ran second last time and he’s improved again off the run.

“Hopefully, he’ll be super competitive on Tuesday. Super Quick has run a few placings so he should also be around the mark again.”