In recent seasons there hasn’t been a more dominant trainer at Tumut than Wangaratta-based visitor Craig Weeding.
The 2023/24 Southern Districts Racing Association (SDRA) trainer of the year, who only trained his first winner in 2018, has since prepared 153 winners and is one of the bright stars of the Victorian training ranks.
Tumut has been a happy hunting ground for Weeding, who has started 31 horses for 11 winners at an astonishing 35.5% win rate.
At Tumut’s most recent meeting, which was their Tumut Cup TAB program on February 10, Weeding prepared three winners, with his stable’s efforts highlighted by Big Day Out’s victory in the Tumut Sprint.
A prominent supporter of racing in the Riverina, he often sets big teams for non-TAB meetings.
Saturday’s event will be no different, with Weeding bringing a big contingent of up to eight runners to Tumut’s Derby Day meeting.
Of his chances, last-start winner Bold Cherie (59kg) will command respect in the Whisk and Dish Benchmark 50 Handicap (1400m).
Racing at Jerilderie late last month, the four-year-old powered to an impressive maiden victory over 1300m.
Stable jockey Jake Duffy remains in the saddle, and the pair will take a lot of beating despite drawing the car park with gate eight.
The in-form A Bit Racey (60kg) treks to Tumut searching for three wins on the trot, and Weeding and connections have drawn favourably with gate three in the Weir Racing Stables Benchmark 58 Handicap (1200m).
With recent wins at Wagga and Balranald under her belt, the seven-year-old is racing in career-best form and is already a winner on the Tumut circuit.
The stable might also bring another last-start winner in Bold Cherie (55.5kg), which has drawn well with gate three in the Elliott’s Landscape Supplies Class Two Handicap (1600m).
A winner at Jerilderie late last month, the four-year-old has a lot of upside and will be suited to the eight-furlong trip.
Weeding does have options with Bold Cherie, which is also entered at Berrigan on Saturday and Corowa on Monday.
There are five races, with 36 total acceptors, on what is set to be a good day’s racing at Tumut.
The remaining events are the Stubbs Contracting and Excavations Maiden Plate (1000m) and the Tumut Bicentenary Maiden Plate (1200m).
The gates open at noon on the day, with the first race to jump at 1.45pm.
