3 minute read
Kelly Schweida hopes Slow Hands can end a forgetful week for the premier trainer by claiming the $150,000 Rockhampton Cup at Callaghan Park on Saturday.
Schweida is chasing his second Rockhampton Cup win following Ruling Force's win in 2016.
Slow Hands was originally prepared by Lance O'Sullivan in New Zealand before landing in Schweida's stables two years ago with one win from nine starts.
Since then, Slow Hands has won a further four times.
The six-year-old won a Class Six at Eagle Farm three starts back in May, before finishing a soundly beaten second in a Benchmark race over 1200 metres at Doomben a month later.
At his most recent appearance, Slow Hands finished fourth, just over two lengths behind the Chris Waller-trained Prospectus in the Ipswich Mile on June 19.
"The Rocky Cup this year is a bit stronger than I thought it would be," he said.
"My bloke has reasonable form for this race but the top two, Hail Manhattan and Right Or Wrong have good form.
"He had 60kgs in the Ipswich race and had to go back to last after he drew the outside gate.
"His best work came late over the last 50 metres and he's got the right form line and weight to win tomorrow.
"The track will suit, the distance will suit but he's got a bad barrier…again."
New Zealand jockey Samantha Collett will make the trip to Rockhampton to partner Slow Hands.
The Wizard of the West - William Pike - was originally booked before the latest COVID-19 outbreak prevented him travelling.
Schweida will be looking for a change in fortune after a day to forget on Wednesday when his car he planned to travel to Rockhampton had a flat battery.
"I got a call on Wednesday morning from my wife, Vera, who said the car I was taking to Rocky had a flat battery," Schweida said.
"I'm useless when it comes to cars and the battery was as heavy as King Kong and I had no idea how to change it over with all this modern technology.
"Luckily, Vera knew what to do, bless her".
Schweida's day got worse a few minutes later when he received his Work Cover bill for more than $92,000, then on Thursday he went to his local doctor for a COVID-19 jab.
"The Work Cover bill was horrendous and when I went to the doctor, I asked about getting another needle but I had to get the AstraZeneca at my age," Schweida said.
"To make things even worse Slows Hands drew barrier 12 in the Rocky Cup."