Trainer Michael Nolan is living in hope his underrated sprinter Zahas Pride can break his Listed Weetwood Handicap hoodoo at Toowoomba."It's a race I just can't win. I've had runners in it just about every year I've been training," Nolan said of Thursday's 1200-metre feature.Nolan went close to claiming his home town Weetwood for the first time when Prince Hakeem was beaten in a photo-finish by Ours in 2002.Nolan's confidence hasn't been helped by jockey Stathi Katsidis's decision to turn down a

Trainer Michael Nolan is living in hope his underrated sprinter Zahas Pride can break his Listed Weetwood Handicap hoodoo at Toowoomba.

"It's a race I just can't win. I've had runners in it just about every year I've been training," Nolan said of Thursday's 1200-metre feature.

Nolan went close to claiming his home town Weetwood for the first time when Prince Hakeem was beaten in a photo-finish by Ours in 2002.

Nolan's confidence hasn't been helped by jockey Stathi Katsidis's decision to turn down an offer to ride Zahas Pride in preference for the Rex Lipp-trained Blackwoods Choice.

Unlike Nolan, Lipp is chasing his third Weetwood Handicap with Blackwoods Choice and stablemate Express Air while Katsidis has claimed the famous Darling Downs sprint five times.

Lipp's Weetwood wins were with Archikeelya (1994) and Gene's Interest (1998) while Katsidis' victories were aboard Vacen Lee (2000), Startell (2001), Devil (2004) and Tellem (2005 and 2007).

Chris Whiteley will partner Zahas Pride who hasn't raced since finishing eighth in a 1200-metre Open Handicap at Doomben on Boxing Day.

The son of Zaha emerged as a potential winter carnival hope after winning seven of his first 11 starts in restricted grade before failing when stepped up to open grade in the summer.

"His form tapered off for some reason last campaign after we tried him over 1600 metres," Nolan said.

"It may have been trying him over the mile wasn't the right thing to do but we gave him his chance after he won over it at Doomben as a three-year-old.

"It's a different ball game over that trip in open grade and he lost his way."

Nolan is unconcerned about tackling the Weetwood first-up as Zahas Pride has drawn the rails and has a proven record when resuming.

"I'm confident he'll go well. He's had a nice break and has filled out a lot and is more mature now," Nolan said.

Nolan isn't as confident of his chances of claiming his second Listed Toowoomba Cup (2100m) with equal topweight Drumshanbo.

Drumshanbo produced an improved performance at his fourth start this campaign when he stormed home to finish third to Steel Lips in the Easter Cup (1800m) at Eagle Farm on April 3.

"He was on the limit with 53 kilos that day and he's got topweight tomorrow with 58 kilos," Nolan said.

"He's going good but the handicappers have got to him which they tend to do in Queensland."

Nolan's Toowoomba Cup success was with `Tis Love in 2001.