Trainer Kelly Schweida believes Better Than Ready is adaptable enough to take advantage of a rails draw in Saturday’s Group One Doomben 10,000.
Better Than Ready settled at the rear of the field in the BTC Cup at Eagle Farm on May 11 before making up ground to finish third to Your Song.
“He would’ve settled closer the other day but when Buffering was slow away he had to wait for him to get going and ended up being shuffled back to last,” he said.
“From where he’s drawn this time he should be able to settle a bit handier and even though this is a stronger race there looks good speed which suits us.”
Better Than Ready is an $11 chance in the 10,000 while fellow three-year-old Your Song has maintained his firm grip on favouritism at $2.60 despite drawing the outside stall in the 15-horse field.
In the past 30 years, horses drawn barrier one have won the 10,000 six times, more than any other alley while Chief De Beers in 1998 is the only winner to start from the outside gate during that period.
Like several trainers of runners in the 10,000, Schweida is hoping Your Song won’t be as effective on a firmer surface on Saturday as he was on a heavy track in the BTC Cup.
“His win in the BTC Cup was exceptional and if he’s as good on the dry as he is in the wet then we’re all in a bit of trouble,” Schweida said.
Doomben has been rated in the dead range for Saturday and officials are confident some light rain on Wednesday won’t have too much of an impact on the track.
Better Than Ready has impressed Schweida with his build-up to the 10,000.
“Straight after the BTC Cup he was a bit jelly legged but he recovered really quick the next day,” he said.
“He had a little blow after his gallop on Tuesday but it was still really nice work and he’s getting fitter and fitter.”
While Schweida expects Better Than Ready to be highly competitive in the 10,000, he believes the colt will peak in the Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 8.
