Schweida hopes for more winter glory in Winx Guineas

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Kelly Schweida is hoping to ice his best-ever haul of stakes wins during the Queensland Racing Carnival at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

Schweida - a two-time Group 1-winner - equaled his record of four black-type wins in the 2022 winter carnival when Miss Joelene won in the Listed Tattersall’s Gold Crown at Eagle Farm last Saturday.

He later claimed a record five wins at stakes-level for a winter carnival when Metalart won the Group 3 W.J Healy Stakes.

Schweida heads to the Sunshine Coast hoping for further glory but will have only one starter in the three remaining stakes races when Hella Fast lines up in the Group 3 Winx Guineas.

The Winx Guineas is already in Schweida’s trophy cabinet following Majestic Colour’s victory in 2022.

“It’s been a good winter carnival for us, but it could have been better,” Schweida said.

“We had a few bad barriers which changed a few results.

“Grafterburners just got beaten when he ran third in the (Group 2) Spirit Of Boom Classic after siting four and five wide the whole way."

Schweida believes Hella Fast is a good chance of finishing the Queensland Racing Carnival on a high.

Hella Fast is coming off a fast finishing sixth, beaten just over three lengths, by the Paul Shailer-trained Mister Bianco in the T L Cooney Handicap at Ipswich on June 21.

“He ran a good race at Ipswich, but they just went too fast for him,” Schweida said.

“He found the line well which was pleasing.”

Hella Fast will again take on Mister Bianco who has pleased Shailer since his dominant Ipswich victory.

Shailer has booked Ryan Maloney to replace winning jockey Andrew Mallyon who has taken holidays and will miss the Sunshine Coast meeting.

“Ryan has won on Mister Bianco, so he knows the horse well,” Shailer said.

“Mister Bianco came through his Ipswich win very well and his work last Saturday was very good.

“I’ll take him to the beach on Wednesday, which is normal for him, and the only query is stepping up to 1600 metres.”

Mister Bianco has started 12 times for five wins and four placings but is untried over 1600 metres.

“The only query we have with him is the distance,” Shailer said.

“He’s in good form but he’s yet to tick the 1600 metre box.”