Go Wandji back in action at Eagle Farm

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Tom Dougall will continue his conservative approach with star sprinter Go Wandji after the gelding makes a return to racing at Eagle Farm on Wednesday.

Go Wandji will have his first start since being scratched at the barriers in a Class 6 Plate at Eagle Farm on April 30 when he lines up in the Class 5 Handicap over 1200 metres.

Dougall was under pressure to chase some of the bigger races during the TAB Queensland Racing carnival but the wily Toowoomba trainer resisted, preferring to keep the four-year-old in his grade to boost his ratings.

Go Wandji has won six of his nine starts and was rated by many judges as a certainty beaten when second to the Jay Bellamy-trained Siesta Key in a 1200 metre Benchmark race at Doomben on April 9.

He was declared a late scratching at his next assignment at Eagle Farm after he was fractious in the barriers and suffered a minor leg abrasion when he got his leg caught over the rear petition.

“He had to get a barrier certificate before he could run again and with the wet weather around then we gave him some time off,” Dougall said.

“He’s fit enough to win first up - if he’s good enough.”

Dougall has no regrets about not giving Go Wandji a chance in better grade during the winter carnival.

“His rating wasn’t good enough for some of those races,” he said.

“But, we’ll definitely be looking at next year’s winter with him.”

Dougall said there have been no more offers to sell Go Wandji, who is raced by his father, John Dougall.

“Dad hasn’t had any more offers to sell him and I think he’s just enjoying the fun racing him,” he said.

Dougall has not ruled out a trip interstate with Go Wandji during the spring but will leave all decisions to his father.

“It’s up Dad if he wants to put him on a float and send him to Sydney but there’s no plans for that at this stage,” Dougall said.

“We’ve done a lot of barrier work with him and hopefully he can pull his head in on Wednesday and behave.

“It will be nice to get a couple more wins into him soon so he can lift his rating.”

Go Wandji, who was bought by John Dougall for only $20,000 at the Scone Inglis sale in 2019, will again be ridden by Larry Cassidy.