Craig Weeding will be out to win the biggest race of his career at Echuca on Good Friday.

Racing Who Dares, the stable will target the $500,000 Country Discovery (1000m), with Jake Duffy to ride the four-time winner.

Who Dares is a new horse to the stable, formerly trained by Pat Carey and Harris Walker.

Proven in Listed company, the Deep Field gelding won the $175,000 VOBIS Gold Sprint (1200m) at Caulfield in April 2024 before backing up the very next start and triumphing in the Listed $175,000 Straight Six (1200m) at Flemington in May 2024.

Since arriving in the Wangaratta stable, the 5YO has done everything right, impressing in two trials to date at Wangaratta.

Boasting a good first-up record (4:2-1-0), bookmakers have kept Who Dares safe at $11, and Craig’s only concern is that this event might be a touch short for the talented sprinter, who loves the six furlongs.

Still, the Country Discovery is a great starting point, as connections have the $200,000 Wagga Town Plate in mind for Who Dares, with the May 1 feature locked in as his second-up start so long as he gets through the Echuca run with no concerns.

It’s an exciting time for the Weeding Racing stable, which has prepared 40 winners in season 2024/25.

On track for their best-ever season, the Wangaratta stable landed a winning double at Benalla on Monday.

Impressive maiden winner Paparazzo (Jake Duffy) was a class above his rivals in the 1106m Maiden Plate, and tough stayer Ashau Valley (Luke Cartwright) was gutsy when taking out the 2100m Benchmark 58 Handicap.

The following day, stable star Big Day Out scored the ninth win of his career, with Jake Duffy guiding the 8YO to victory in the 1000m Benchmark 64 Handicap.

After today’s meeting at Echuca, Weeding Racing will start Claymore Mine in the Tocumwal Cup on Saturday before sending a big team of up to six runners to Wodonga on Tuesday.

Words: Jeff Hanson

Image: Racing Photos

Rising 8YO and stable star Big Day Out landed the ninth win of his glittering career at Seymour on Tuesday, prevailing in the 1000m Benchmark 64 Handicap. 

Ridden by Jake Duffy, who notched his 71st win for the stable in the process, the Delago Deluxe gelding was raced quietly at the back of the field before the $17 outsider unleashed a well-timed run for a thrilling victory. 

A 74-start veteran who’s also finished with another 27 minor placings since debuting as a talented 2YO at Wagga on Australia Day, 2020, Big Day Out has earned connections over $310,000 in prize money.

A shrewd $2,500 purchase, it’s no wonder the ever-consistent gelding is a stable favourite. 

“He would be very close to my favourite horse,” Weeding said.

“He was one of the very first horses I trained. We bought him for $2,500 as a weanling, broke him in, and did all the work.

“He was my first 2YO winner, my first winner at Flemington and only winner at Flemington, and he just makes me look good because he turns up every time he goes to the races and has a real crack.”

Big Day Out and Jake Duffy combined for their first win in February 2020, triumphing in the 1200m Maiden Plate at Wagga. 

In total, they’ve combined seven times, winning the Tumut Sprint in 2023 and back-to-back Leeton Stan Axtill Memorial races in 2022 and 2023.

“I’ve had a fair bit to do with this horse since the start of his career, and I know him like the back of my hand,” Duffy said. 

“He is a horse that, if he is covered up and ridden for the last crack at them, he can let go like that, especially back in this type of grade.”

The Weeding Racing stable has a good crop of proven gallopers, including Prince Of Helena, Who Dares, Controversial Miss, Yam, and Ashau Valley, and rising stars Make It Sweet, Maid In Dubai, Recon, and Love From Venus.

Duffy was excited to be affiliated with the growing stable and good horses such as Big Day Out.

“He’s been a good little horse to me and has always been consistent, running around the first four. He’s been a good horse for Craig, and you could say he is a stable star,” Duffy said. 

“Craig came down four or five years ago, and we created a bit of an affiliation, and he’s been a massive supporter of mine and put me on the right horses and given me opportunities on horses that other trainers probably wouldn’t.

“I’ve shown with that support, especially this season, that once you can get a roll on, get on better horses, it’s easy to get winners.”

It’s been a successful period for Weeding Racing, which also landed a double at Benalla on Monday. 

Duffy was in the saddle as Paparazzo won the 1106m Maiden Plate, and apprentice Luke Cartwright guided Ashau Valley to a tough victory in the 2100m Benchmark 58 Handicap. 

Weeding has trained 40 winners in season 2024/25, while Duffy is on track for his best-ever season in the saddle, with 50 winners at a strike rate of 14%.

Words & Image: Jeff Hanson

It’s set to be a busy Albury carnival for the Weeding Racing team, who could start up to 11 chances across Thursday and Friday.

On Thursday, Craig and the team kick off the carnival with Perfume River (Jake Duffy, 55kg), which has drawn gate 10 in the $30,000 Class 1/Maiden Plate (2000m).

Our next event is the $50,000 Super Maiden Handicap (1400m), where we have Breezy Bon (Jake Duffy, 57kg), the below-mentioned Champagne Pink (55.5kg), and Jellignite (Pierre Boudvillain, 55kg) going around for connections.

Last-start Towong placegetter Breezy Bon has drawn well with gate 2, as has Jellignite with gate 5.

Next is the $50,000 Albury Mile (1600m), where Fox Appeal (Jake Duffy, 55kg) has drawn gate 5.

Fox Appeal took on the $250,000 Country Mile Series final at Caulfield on Saturday, but this event at Albury is a more suitable affair.

The second day of the Albury carnival commences on Friday, and Ashau Valley (Jake Duffy, 60.5kg) leads off our chances in the $40,000 Benchmark 66 (2400m) staying event.

The in-form stayer finds a nice race and has drawn gate 7.

The two-time placegetter Antidote (Jake Duffy, 57kg) has drawn well with gate 3 in the $50,000 Super Maiden Plate (1175m).

In the same event, Craig entered Champagne Pink (56.5kg), but no jockey is listed, and connections have options. The last-start placegetter is also entered in Thursday's $50,000 Super Maiden (1400m) at Albury.

The talented Yam (Jake Duffy, 62kg) resumes in the $30,000 Benchmark 58 Handicap (1175m), where we have drawn gate 9.

The 4YO showcased good ability last preparation, and Craig is excited to see the Pluck gelding back on track.

The $75,000 Flat Knacker (900m) is one of the features on the second day of the Albury carnival, and we’ll start Big Day Out (Jake Duffy, 55kg) after drawing gate 7.

An eight-time winner, the 8YO resumed from a spell at Echuca last time out, finishing a good fourth in the 1000m Benchmark 70 Handicap.

The old boy is usually good second-up, but this is a classy event with many handy sprinters set to battle it out.

Weeding Racing might have Recon chasing three consecutive victories when taking on Friday’s $80,000 Albury Guineas (1400m).

Racing against other 3YOs, the Cosmic Force colt will carry 58.5kg and has drawn awkwardly with gate 14.

Still, Recon has been flying, with Jake Duffy guiding the youngster to an impressive three-length maiden (1212m) win at Benalla on February 16.

The pair then franked that form with a dominant two-length victory in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1170m) at Wangaratta on March 1, defeating the Group-placed galloper, Rocket Tiger.

It will be a massive task at Albury, with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott starting last-start Super Maiden winner Conchiero (Rachel King, 61kg). At the same time, the likes of Michael Freedman, Brett Cavanough, Danielle Seib and Frank Cleary have targeted the race with nice, young horses.

Following the Albury carnival, Weeding Racing has runners entered at Berrigan, Narrandera and Benalla on Saturday.

Words/Image: Jeff Hanson