Malvern Estate headed to winter carnival

Publishing Power will be set for the Weetwood Handicap after winning at Doomben.

Improving gelding Malvern Estate proved he was a genuine winter carnival hopeful when he overcame difficulties to score last-stride win at Doomben on Saturday.

Malvern Estate ($3.50) beat Boomwaa ($4.40) by a short half head with a half neck to Just Orm ($11) in third in the Open Handicap (1110m).

Winning trainer Desleigh Forster has always believed Malvern Estate was a winter carnival horse but needed it to be confirmed on Saturday.

“He shouldn’t have won today as he had trouble getting into the clear in the straight. But he has the will to win and that is the mark of a good horse,” Forster said.

‘”You could see he really wanted to hit the line and that is what I like about him.”

Forster said Malvern Estate could tackle a stakes race at the Gold Coast next month but was most likely to go for a short spell.

“I am really keen to give him his chance in the winter carnival.”

Winning jockey Michael Cahill was also impressed with Malvern Estate who made it four wins in a row.

“Yes he has a real will to win and can go a good way,” he said.

Trainer Ben Currie was the least worried before his smart galloper Publishing Power won his first race at Doomben in the Benchmark 80 (1200m).

Publishing Power ($2) had seven previous starts at Doomben without a win but came from near last at the 600m to score impressively.

“Everyone else seemed more stressed out about him not winning than I was. There were excuses the previous two times he was beaten at Doomben and this race suited him,” Currie said.

He said Publishing Power would probably be set for the Listed Weetwood Hcp in Toowoomba in April.

“We won it last year and I would like to have another good go at it now,” Currie said.

Trainer Michael Costa’s decision to build up his team numbers continued to pay dividends when Diamonds Are won the Class 3 Plate (1630m).

Costa has been training on the Gold Coast for about two years after moving north from Warwick Farm in Sydney.

“I’ve got about 35 horses in the stables now and hope to get up around 50,” he said.