By Glenn Davis
Trainer Paul Nolan jnr concedes talented colt Spending My Time faces an uphill battle to claim successive Sunshine Coast wins on Saturday.
Nolan ended a 15-year wait to win his first Saturday QTIS race when Spending My Time won at the venue on September 1.
Spending My Time will run in the Marcoola SLSC QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1000m) and will have a change of rider with the experienced Larry Cassidy replacing suspended apprentice Jag Guthmann-Chester.
However, Nolan is concerned with the weight turnaround favouring the Chris Munce-trained Racecourse Road who was just edged out by Spending My Time last start.
“We’ve got a good draw in barrier one which is a positive,” Nolan said.
“But we’re 3.5kgs worse off in the weights against Racecourse Road who we just beat last time.
“Larry Cassidy is riding him with Jag suspended so 3.5 kgs is a big difference.”
Nolan also was a little concerned how Spending My Time pulled up following his Sunshine Coast win.
“He had a real gut buster the day he won and left some feed after the race,” Nolan said.
“I’m a bit worried he might be a little flat for his second up run but he’ll go around before stepping up to 1200 metres.
“I’m hoping he’ll run well again but realistically I’ll be happy if he finishes within a couple of lengths of the winner.”
Spending My Time was a cheap $20,000 buy at the Magic Millions March sales but Nolan has no immediate plans with the son of Jet Spur.
“He wasn’t paid up for the Magic Millions so I’ll just see what QTIS races are around for him after this run,” he said.
Nolan rates Racecourse Road and the Tony Gollan-trained Shamurt as the hardest to beat.
The Chris Munce-trained Racecourse Road is on trial for a trip to Melbourne while Shamurt has been placed at Listed level and has won two of her five starts for trainer Tony Gollan.
The daughter of Murtajill won her first two starts at Doomben and Toowoomba before finishing second to Mishani Hustler in the Listed Dalrello Stakes at Doomben during the Brisbane winter carnival.
She had two more winter starts for a fifth in the Listed Bill Carter at Doomben in April before spelling following a close sixth to the Chris Waller-trained Lean Mean Machine in the G2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes at Doomben in June.
Racing Queensland webnews September 21