Webster stable on fire ahead of Ipswich

By Glenn Davis

A 50 per cent winning strike-rate from 16 starters since the start of November is proof Pat Webster’s decision to relocate to Toowoomba is paying off in spades.

Webster trained for many years at St George before moving to the Bahram training and spelling centre, just outside Toowoomba.

The trainer is in career-best form in his third year at Toowoomba and following his latest win at Warwick on Monday is striking around 24 per cent with 21 wins from 87 starters this season.

“We’ve just been placing them in the right races and hopefully we can improve on that at Ipswich,” Webster said.

The former bush horseman hopes to add to the tally of winners when he heads to Ipswich with a small team on Wednesday.

Rejuvenated sprinter Big Sky Country, a Les Tilley mount, will be chasing a hat-trick of wins in the Benchmark 70 Handicap over the 800 metre dash while Rejoiced and Skywolf are acceptors in the 1200 metre Open Handicap.

Big Sky Country started his career in Brisbane with champion trainer Tony Gollan before moving to Webster 12 months ago.

“I’ve no idea why he left Tony’s stable but he was bred in Toowoomba by David and Heather Pascoe and I’ve leased him and put a lot of family and friends in to race him,” Webster said.

“I don’t think 800 metres is really his go, but I want to run him in a couple of shorter races before I step him up in distance.

“He’s got plenty of speed and has drawn well so he should run well.”

Rejoiced has had two starts at Warwick and Gympie following his 1400 metre Dalby Cup win in September.

Former Sydneysider Skywolf was a last start winner at Ballina at his third start for Webster since transferring from 'Team Hawkes' in Sydney.

“Rejoiced has struck a couple of tracks which didn’t suit him of late but he likes Ipswich and I expect a big improvement from him,” Webster said.

“Skywolf was supposed to run at Ballina before the meeting was postponed.

“He’ll be competitive if he runs at Ipswich as he likes wet tracks.”

Webster has made a name for himself in the metropolitan area in recent years following back-to-back wins in the Country Stampede Finals at Doomben with V J Day and Dynamic Verse in 2021 and 2022.

V J Day also went on to finish second to the Olivia Cairns-trained Ammoudi Bay in the Battle Of The Bush Final in 2022.