Dwyer has Winter Carnival hopes for his promising pair

By Glenn Davis

It’s been a steady grind for Group 1-winning trainer Shaun Dwyer in his second life back in Queensland but he remains hopeful of returning to the top level with talented gallopers Anemacore and Ready To Ignite.

The pair will take their next steps towards Queensland Racing Carnival campaigns at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Five-year-old Anemacore will start in the Open Handicap over 1805 metres while Ready To Ignite tackles the QTIS Three-Year-Old Quality over 1200 metres.

Dwyer has a team of 15 in work at the Sunshine Coast after returning home nearly three years ago following a 13-year training stint in Victoria.

Dwyer reached the pinnacle of his training career with his former star Regimental Gal who won the 2003 Magic Millions Classic before going on to win the Group 1 Lightning Handicap and Group 1 Australian Stakes in Melbourne in 2004.

He also trained Miss Leonidas who was a five-times winner including the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint in 2019 and was nosed out in the Group 1 The Galaxy at Rosehill at her last appearance in 2020.

Dwyer returned home on Sunday following a trip to Melbourne for the Australian Cup at Flemington last Saturday where he had a reunion with owners of Miss Leonidas.

Dwyer is hopeful Anemacore can boost his rating in coming weeks to earn starts in the Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap at Doomben on May 17 and the Group 1 Doomben Cup a week later.

“We’ve got to get his rating up to get into those races and the Q22 would also be a nice race for him if he can get into the field,” Dwyer said.

Dwyer was disappointed with Anemacore’s last start fourth when beaten less than one length by the Peter and Will Hulbert-trained Kipling’s Journey over 1820 metres at Eagle Farm in mid-March.

“He was a bit disappointing after he was held up and flew home in his previous two runs when he placed at Doomben,” he said.

“He seemed to shorten stride last time but I had the vet go all over him and he’s in good shape.

“He’s had a lot of feet and back problems in the past but they seem to have settled down.”

Dwyer has an equally high opinion of Ready To Ignite despite the son of Jungle Cat’s last start ninth in a 1000-metre Class 1 at the Sunshine Coast on March 16.

“He’s a really nice horse but I’ve had him ridden cold in the past and I want to see him run in the first three if possible this time,” Dwyer said.

“He’s also got to get his rating up and if he can do that we might look at the Queensland Guineas.”