Trainer Wieland ends jockey search for Star Status in Banana Cup

By Glenn Davis

In-form North Queensland stayer Star Status will be out to stake his claims for the Cairns Cup later this month when the former South Australian tackles the Banana Cup at Innisfail on Saturday.

Innisfail is staging a massive nine race program in what is a rare TAB meeting for the club and an important lead-up fixture to the Cairns Cup over 2100 metres on August 27.

Star Status missed out on a start in last Saturday’s Townsville Cup at Cluden Park after being among the emergences and instead finished second to the Jared Wehlow-trained Louis January in a 2000 metre Benchmark 65 race.

Star Status is owned by Cairns Jockey Club president Tom Hedley (pictured).

Trainer Fred Wieland has resolved a jockey problem with the booking of local Nor Yadi for Star Status as regular rider Nathan Thomas was unavailable.

Star Status has been racing consistently since joining the Wieland stable and has notched up two wins and as many placings from five starts since being bought by prominent North Queensland owner Hedley.

His only unplaced run was when he finished sixth at his first start for Wieland in an unsuitable 1250 metre Benchmark race in Cairns in May.

The recently turned seven-year-old had two starts for Brisbane trainer Lauren Abbott before being moved on to Wieland.

He was once rated good enough to run in the Group 1 South Australian Derby in 2019 when previously trained by Leon McDonald and Andrew Gluyas.

However, he failed to measure up in the SA Derby, beating only one home, but went on to win a further five times for his Adelaide trainers.

Wieland has no concerns with Star Status backing up a week after his Townsville run last Saturday.

“I can’t see why he won’t back-up,” Wieland said.

“His run at Townsville was very good with 63kgs and he’s jumping out of his skin.

“Louis January was too good on the day but he was allowed to bowl along in front without any pressure.”

Louis January set up a huge lead and won decisively while Star Status had to come from the tail enders before going down by two and a half lengths.

Wieland has accepted with seven horses at Innisfail and rates Dreamline in the Benchmark 60 Handicap as a strong hope of winning.

“Dreamline is also owned by Tom Hedley and she’s having her first starter for me and is going very well,” he said.

Dreamline has started 14 times for one win and six placings for previous NSW trainers Gary White and Terry Croft.

The five-year-old daughter of Dream Ahead has not started since going to the races at Orange in December last year.