Wehlow aiming to go out on Rockhampton high

By Jordan Gerrans

Jared Wehlow waved goodbye to Mackay’s Ooralea track on a winning note on Tuesday and the trainer is optimistic of doing the same at his long-time home deck on Friday.

The 37-year-old Callaghan Park conditioner has made the decision to step away from training and will vacate his boxes at the end of the month.

The son of former trainer Greg Wehlow has not limped to the finish line either, preparing three winners over the last month before he starts his retirement.

Letmeletgo provided Wehlow a final victory at Mackay on Tuesday.

He says he is opting to focus on his growing family with the decision to give up training.

“I have done 15 years and have got a young family and obviously the older you get, your priorities change a bit,” Wehlow said.

“You have to have your foot on the throttle the whole time as a trainer and after 15 years I thought it was the right time to take a step back.

“I will have a bit of family time and enjoy doing something different.”

Born in Townsville and now based in the 'Beef Capital' of Australia, Wehlow’s father – Greg – previously trained on the Atherton Tablelands, where Jared also spent some time in his youngest days.

Mackay is a track Wehlow has always enjoyed success at.

Former stayer Quality Asset won the time-honoured H.L. Black Memorial in 2022 – which is a key lead-in race to the Mackay Cup – as well as claiming the Mackay Amateur Cup.

Inquiry was arguably the best galloper Wehlow prepared in the time since he had his first runner back in 2010.

The Rockhampton conditioner won races up and down the Queensland coast with Inquiry before bringing the sprinter to town and finishing second in a city Saturday race.

Just three starts later, and after being transferred to the barn of John Smerdon, Inquiry claimed the Listed Spear Chief at Doomben in June of 2020.

According to Racing And Sports’ statistics, Wehlow has prepared 367 winners across his time in racing, which included multiple victories around South East Queensland when he travelled horses south.

In the 2022-23 campaign, he prepared 49 winners, which was a season high across the last decade, at a tick over 20 per cent winning strike-rate. 

“For now, yes, but I won’t say never, see what happens,” Wehlow said about his upcoming retirement from training.

Wehlow took three from his team to Mackay on Tuesday with Letmeletgo scoring in the Open Handicap over 1300 metres while stable mate Fictive finished second in a maiden.

From an inside draw, Letmeletgo was able to lead throughout and nab the ninth victory of the seven-year-old gelding’s career.

“He is a horse you would love to have a stable full like him,” the trainer said.

“A month between runs into a 1300 metre race, he was always going to be pretty hard to beat.

“It is probably the first time he has led – I was probably a bit nervous when he led for a little bit – but obviously coming down in weight, fresh over 1300 metres and Justin Stanley rode him really well in the end.

“That is why you put blokes like Justin on and he summed it up and got it right.”

The state’s leading jockey so far in the 2024-25 season – Stanley – was impressed by Letmeletgo’s tough performance to hold off Stampe in the concluding stages.

“He had everything go his own way and Jared was pretty confident he would run a good race for that reason,” the top hoop said.

“It was a sprint home the last 600 metres and he was able to hold on, it was good.

“He had a soft run early so he had a good kick left and he fought it out well.”

Wehlow will have his last starter on his home track of Rockhampton Jockey Club on Friday with Shekinah heading towards the Ratings Band 0 – 55 Handicap over 1300 metres with Ryan Wiggins in the saddle.

The Divine Prophet mare is a last start winner at Callaghan Park over the same trip.