Racing: Rayner back to Brisbane with star

Star sprinter Start Wondering. Photo / Race Images

Evan Rayner has enjoyed past Queensland winter carnival success and he is set for a return after a more than 20-year absence.

The Wanganui horseman, who trains with his daughter J.J., promises to make an impact with the star sprinter Start Wondering and his travelling companion, the unbeaten Flying Fred.

"Start Wondering is doing everything right and he had a good gallop this morning and wouldn't have blown a match out afterwards," Rayner said. "He'll run in the Doomben 10,000 on May 13 and there's the Darley Kingsford Smith Cup a fortnight later.

"We'll then have to work out what we do and if he goes on to the Stradbroke, it will depend on what weight he gets in that."

Start Wondering was ridden in his domestic Group One wins in the Railway Stakes and the NRM Sprint by Johnathan Parkes, who will ride the six-year-old in Australia.

"He's ready to go and you can't break a winning combination," said Rayner, who twice campaigned the stayer Major Decision in Queensland in the early 1990s.

Start Wondering is raced by Steve Gudsell, who also bred and owns Flying Fred who hasn't raced since his debut win at Woodville last spring.

"He's working well and there is a three-year-old race for him at Doomben on the 13th, but he might not make the field so we will nominate him for a race the same day at the Gold Coast."

- NZ Racing Desk