By Glenn Davis
Trainer Desleigh Forster believes Malvern Estate could be the real deal after the four-year-old stretched his winning sequence to four at Doomben on Saturday.
Ridden by Michael Cahill, Malvern Estate stormed home to nail Boomwaa by a short half head in the Lunar New Year At Treasury Brisbane Open Handicap (1110m).
Just Orm was third, a further half neck away.
Malvern Estate, a son of Redoute’s Choice, was stepping up to open company for the first time after Forster scratched him from the Benchmark 80 Handicap (1200m).
Forster said Malvern Estate, who was previously in the care of Peter Moody and Mick Price, was lucky to be racing after suffering from some issues early in his career.
Forster will confer with part-owner Basil Nolan from Raheen Stud before deciding Malvern Estate’s immediate future.
“I know Basil would like to win a Weetwood but I’d like to put him away and get him ready for something decent in the winter,” Forster said.
“I think he’s definitely up to them.”
Forster had some reservations whether Malvern Estate could win after being locked in on the fence approaching the home turn.
“He wasn’t entitled to win. He got into trouble and got buffeted around,” she said.
“But he did a good job and he’s a tough little horse.”
Meanwhile Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie boosted his claims for back-to-back Weetwood Handicaps following Publishing Power’s stunning win in the Benchmark 80 Handicap (1200m).
Heavily backed, Publishing Power gave his supporters plenty of concern when the gelding missed the start badly before flashing home along the rails to snatch victory by 1-1/4 lengths over Criquette.
I’ve Gotta Nel battled on strongly for third, a further 1-3/4 lengths away.
Currie created history last year when Col ‘N ‘ Lil dead-heated with Jumbo Prince who was trained by his uncle Michael Nolan to win the Listed Weetwood Handicap last April.
Currie has a number of horses in contention for this year’s $150,000 Listed Weetwood Handicap (1200m) on April 7.
“We’ve got a lot of horses who could run in the Weetwood but this win should just about put Publishing Power into the race,” Currie said.
“I think everyone else was more stressed than I when he missed the start as he had genuine excuses his last two runs.
“He’s a horrible beginner and has been like that most of his career.
“He’s just lucky he’s got a good motor.”
Currie admitted he was more concerned when jockey Jim Byrne was left with no option other than come along the fence on the heavy track.
“I was keen to keep off the fence but Jimmy wasn’t,” Currie said.
Publishing Power’s win was the second leg of a double for Byrne who earlier won aboard the Tony Gollan-trained Brazen Moss in the Open Handicap (1630m).
Racing Queensland webnews February 17