Winters' stable back from a summer break

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Wayne Winters will welcome in the autumn with his first runners in more than three months at Mackay on Tuesday.

Winters will saddle his first starter since November when Harvesta tackles the Benchmark 70 Handicap over 1200 metres while stable mate Miss Shalaa runs in the 0-55 Handicap over 1100 metres.

Ironically, the pair was Winters' last runners at Mackay on November 30 when Harvesta finished second in a 1050 metre Class 3 Handicap while Miss Shalaa beat one runner home in a 0-55 Handicap over 1560 metres.

Winters spelled his horses during the summer for a number of years and believes it’s been a successful formula.

“I always spell my horses in December and January when it’s too hot and too wet and slowly bring them back into work,” Winters said.

“Even in February I only swim and walk them for the first four weeks.

“It’s been a good formula which has worked for me in the past and that’s probably why they stay up for six months.”

Winters only has the pair in work and is hopeful both will perform well.

“Harvesta might need the run but he’s my 'ATM',” Winters said.

“He gets prize money most of the time he goes around.

“He’s won twice and placed six other times from his last 13 starts.”

Apprentice Nicole Seymour will partner both Winters’ runners as she continues her comeback from a broken wrist incurred when riding Miss Shalaa in her first start for Winters at Rockhampton in October last year.

“Unfortunately, Nicole broke her wrist badly when she fell from Miss Shalaa in her first start for me at Rockhampton,” Winters said.

“She’s been doing a lot of track work for me lately so I've rewarded her with the rides on both my horses.

“I think both may need a run but I’ve got high expectations that Miss Shalaa will run very well."

Miss Shalaa was previously trained in NSW by Jason Deamer, winning a maiden race at Taree in June last year before being moved on to Winters last September.

The 70-year-old Winters is celebrating his 50th year of training since he was licensed as a 20-year-old.