Purple Patch To Continue For Wood

Friday, 09 September 2011 03:15

Trainer Kelso Wood is confident his recent purple patch can continue when he heads to Doomben on Saturday with four runners.

Wood has the in-form Belltone and veteran Anyways engaged in the Brand & Slater Open Handicap (1350m) along with Lilleelavee in the Ormiston College Handicap (1200m) and Seek And Find in the Ormiston College Sporting Premiers Handicap (1010m).

The experienced trainer has an impressive strike rate with five wins and four placingsfrom his last 10 starters since mid-August.

Wood's great form has coincided with the freakish run from jockey Chris Munce who has ridden a winner at every Saturday race meeting since his return from an overseas holiday in early August.

However, Wood won't have the services of the champion hoop who is riding at Rosehill on Saturday.

Wood was reluctant to separate Belltone and Anyways in their clash and is hopeful of a strong showing from Lilleelavee when she makes her comeback.

"Belltone and Anyways both pulled up well from their last wins and both should be hard to beat," Wood said.

"Lilleelavee is coming along well but she's got an awkward barrier (nine) to contend with first-up."

The six-year-old mare hasn't raced since finishing third at Eagle Farm in November but has been trialling well, winning over 800 metres at Doomben on August 16 before finishing second at the same venue a fortnight later.

Wood is less confident with Seek And Find's chances after the gelding drew barrier 11.

"He's got a shocking barrier and he's only a rough chance from out there," Wood said.

Seek And Find made his comeback this campaign with a handy third to What Happenedhenry in an 1110-metre Class 6 at Doomben last month.

The Sequalo five-year-old has been a slow maturer but Wood feels he's set for a big campaign this spring.

"He used to be tardy at the jump and wanted to hang out in most races early in his career but he seems to have got over that," Wood said.

Belltone looks the best hope for Wood after suffering only one defeat in six starts since entering his stables at the start of the year.

The only loss suffered by the son of Brahms, who was previously prepared by Paul Dawson, was when he went down in a photo-finish to in-form sprinter Solzhenitsyn in a 1400-metre Class 6 Plate at Eagle Farm last month.

Belltone is expected to be spelled shortly before being brought back into work for the summer sprint series in Brisbane.