Skip to main navigation Skip to main content

No interstate trip for Go Wandji as Dougall looks to Longshot Lizzie at Warwick

1 August 2022

Share this page

Share on a platform

Or copy the page link

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Tom Dougall has ruled out an interstate trip this spring for star sprinter Go Wandji as his focus switches to country racing this week.

Go Wandji continued his remarkable record, notching up win number eight from only 11 starts, in a Benchmark race at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Dougall never had time to celebrate the victory as he rushed off to saddle up Madame Grace in a Class 2 Handicap at Toowoomba later that night.

MNrBYBes.jpeg

It will be a case of back to grass roots racing for Dougall, who heads to Warwick on Tuesday hoping to win the Benchmark 58 Handicap over 800 metres with Longshot Lizzie.

“I’ve only got one in at Warwick and then I’ll be off to Nanango on Saturday with a couple,” Dougall said.

“It’s a far cry from winning a race at Eagle Farm but that’s racing.”

Longshot Lizzie has drawn a wide barrier in 10 and will be having her first start since finishing fourth in a Class 1 at Toowoomba in November.

Dougall knows Longshot Lizzie - a Nathan Fazackerley mount - is no Go Wandji but he’s hopeful the five-year-old mare will be competitive.

“I think she may need the run but she goes well so she should run a good race,” Dougall said.

“She hasn’t raced for a while but she’s got a good bunch of owners who gave her a decent break after she developed a few niggling problems with a foot last time in.

“She’s definitely got some talent and has the ability to win a couple of races this campaign.

“Touch wood, everything is going good with her this time in.”

xziIAiRA.jpeg

Meanwhile, Dougall rated Go Wandji’s win on Saturday as the best of his 11-start career when he won convincingly at Eagle Farm.

“It was his best win of his career in my opinion,” the trainer said.

“He won’t be going interstate and we’ll just race on with him up here like a normal horse until he tells us he’s ready for a spell.

“He’s been in work a long time but everything has been out of whack with him this campaign.

“He’s getting a little bit better with every start so we’re just going to look at the winter carnival next year with him.”