Wieland hopes next winter star will emerge at Townsville

By Glenn Davis

Cairns trainer Fred Wieland hopes his next stable star could emerge from the Townsville meeting on Friday.

Wieland has a team of six horses entered for Cluden Park including stable favourite Prime Ruler in the Open Handicap over 1000 metres.

However, Wieland has announced Prime Ruler will likely be retired after his current campaign and is looking to former Adelaide galloper Stadium Of Light to be his next star.

Stadium Of Light steps out for this third start this campaign in the Benchmark 65 Handicap over 1609 metres.

“I’m taking six down to Townsville on Friday and I think Stadium Of Light can improve and take the next step,” Wieland said.

“He came from Adelaide and won here at carnival time in Cairns last year.

“I think he’s improved a lot since then but he’s got too as he goes through the grades.

“We’re hoping he can make a Cup horse in Townsville or Cairns during the winter carnival.”

Stadium Of Light has only won three of his 27 starts and was trained by Michael Hickmott in South Australia before entering’s Wieland’s barn 12 months ago.

The six-year-old son of Sacred Falls has started 11 times for Wieland for two wins and four placings.

In his last appearance, he hit the line strongly to finish third to the Alwyn Bailey-trained Betta Al in a 1400-metre Class 3 at Townsville on March 22.

“I think he can nearly get away with this race on Friday,” Wieland said.

Brisbane jockey Sean Cormack will ride five of Wieland’s six runners including Stadium Of Light and Prime Ruler.

Cormack has only ridden Prime Ruler once when he won the Cairns Amateur Sprint on the seven-year-old last September.

At his last outing, Prime Ruler beat one home in a 950-metre Open on a heavy track at Cairns when he resumed in mid-February.

“He wasn’t fit for that race as he had a lot of disruptions with the weather and the tracks being closed,” Wieland said.

“He had an apprentice ride him last time but I didn’t consider one for this race even though he’s got 63kgs.

“He seems to be fine but he’ll probably struggle with 63kgs on a wet track.”

Wieland is hopeful Prime Ruler, a 12-time winner in 34 starts, can rediscover his best form to warrant a winter carnival campaign in the north.

“He wants further than 1000 metres but hopefully he can find form again before the winter as he’ll probably be retired after this campaign,” he said.