Veteran Toowoomba horseman Barry Squair will chase a consolation prize with his promising sprinter G'Day Old Mate at Eagle Farm on Saturday after he was balloted out of the rich Weetwood Handicap.Squair set G'Day Old Mate for the Weetwood at the end of his last preparation but those plans were thrown into disarray when the gelding needed more time in the paddock than the trainer had planned for.The delayed return to the stable forced Squair to start G'Day Old Mate underdone when he was narrowly

Veteran Toowoomba horseman Barry Squair will chase a consolation prize with his promising sprinter G'Day Old Mate at Eagle Farm on Saturday after he was balloted out of the rich Weetwood Handicap.

Squair set G'Day Old Mate for the Weetwood at the end of his last preparation but those plans were thrown into disarray when the gelding needed more time in the paddock than the trainer had planned for.

The delayed return to the stable forced Squair to start G'Day Old Mate underdone when he was narrowly beaten first-up at Toowoomba on March 17 and was subsequently balloted out of Thursday's Weetwood, but the former jockey is confident the gelding will make amends on Saturday.

G'Day Old Mate has drawn ideally in barrier six in the $50,000 GOA Get Noticed Open Handicap (1000m) and Squair is very upbeat about his chances.

"I was very disappointed he missed a start in the Weetwood. I set him for the race at the end of his previous campaign and I thought he was a real live chance of winning it," Squair said.

"But this race will fit in perfectly for where he is at and he will be very hard to beat.

"He's drawn to get the run of the race and his record over the distance is good. He's four years old now and this should be his best season."

G'Day Old Mate has started six times over 1000m for a win, two seconds and a third and Squair has engaged the talented Brad Stewart to partner the Sequalo gelding on Saturday.

Squair was a former leading Toowoomba jockey who rode plenty of top horses for the late Jim Atkins and he rates G'Day Old Mate the equal to Atkins' former stars including Dalrello, Grey Affair and Prince Anton.

"On the track this horse is as good as any horse I ever rode for JJ," Squair said.

"His natural ability is untapped and he can do amazing things on the track.

"He's learning how to race now and I am confident he can put it all together this season."