Tectonic Plate to target Weetwood at Toowoomba

By Glenn Davis

Lismore trainer Daniel Bowen is hopeful Tectonic Plate can be part of a two-pronged attack on next month’s Listed Toowoomba Weetwood if she passes her next test at Doomben on Saturday.

Tectonic Plate – a Tahlia Fenlon mount – is aiming to stretch her winning sequence to four in the Open Handicap over 1200 metres.

Bowen has already earmarked the $160,000 Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba as the comeback race for his star sprinter At Witz End.

At Witz End gave Bowen the biggest wins of his career by claiming two stakes races in the Listed ATC Cup at the Sunshine Coast and Listed Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich during the 2024 Queensland Racing Carnival. 

With the claim of Fenlon, Tectonic Plate will carry a featherweight in the Open Handicap on Saturday. 

“She’s getting ready for The Kosciuszko and the plan is for her to have her next run in the Weetwood if she runs well on Saturday,” Bowen said.

“I’ve never had a Weetwood runner before but At Witz End is definitely running and she’ll run as well if she pleases me at Doomben.

“It’s another test for her and she has to keep raising the bar before The Kosciuszko as the tickets come out for it in another couple of weeks.

“She gets into Saturday’s race well and with Tahlia’s claim with 50kgs."

Bowen is now reaping the rewards with Tectonic Plate who has won seven of her 15 starts.

“We bought her at the Inglis sales in Sydney as a yearling and we gave her plenty of time early on,” Bowen said.

“It’s paid off as she won seven races last season.”

Bowen also had nominated debutant Hacking for Saturday but has reserved her for the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.

Hacking came through the March sales on the Gold Coast and has shown ability after three barrier trials at Lismore and Grafton.

“She’s a nice filly but she had a bit of a setback with all the rain we’ve had at home lately and it disrupted her preparation,” Bowen said.

“She hasn’t had a start yet and she wasn't well in on Saturday, so I’ve decided to take her to the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.”