Queensland Derby aspirant Carmora is undefeated in three starts but his trainer still describes him as “dumb”.
While Desleigh Forster, who prepares the gelding, isn’t backing away from that description she firmly believes Carmora has the necessary ability to be aimed at a Derby preparation.
“At the moment he’s pretty dumb and pretty raw but the more racing he has under his belt the more he’ll learn,” she said.
“What he did in his first three wins was on sheer ability.
“Horses normally don’t go from winning their first start at the Sunshine Coast to winning their next two in the city which shows what sort of potential he has.”
Forster gave Carmora a break from racing after his latest win at Doomben on March 9 but is happy with his progress leading into Saturday’s Brisbane Racing Club Queensland Day Plate (1350m) at Doomben.
“He’s got a long campaign ahead of him and that’s why he’s had the five weeks between runs but he’s gone about everything the right way leading up to this race,” she said.
More rain in Brisbane has resulted in another heavy surface for Saturday’s meeting which shouldn’t be a problem for Carmora who has raced exclusively on wet tracks.
While Forster isn’t concerned by the weather forecast, she is looking forward to the day when Carmora can showcase his talent on a firm track.
“Everyone’s got him down as just a wet tracker but he’s a very big horse who likes to bowl along and he gives me the impression he’ll be better on top of the ground,” she said.
Carmora’s powerful physique and racing pattern is strikingly similar to former weight-for-age warrior Desert War and Forster believes he will be even better suited when he steps up in distance.
After Saturday’s assignment, Carmora will follow the traditional three-year-old’s program leading up to the Group One Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 8.
Carmora is the $6.50 second favourite on Saturday with Ninth Legion a dominant $2.25 favourite after it was decided to scratch the colt from the Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
