Greg Eurell remains hopeful that Red Colossus can turn around his recent poor form when he jumps in distance at Caulfield.
The stakeswinning five-year-old has disappointed at his three runs this campaign but the Cranbourne trainer said he would have no excuses in Saturday’s Monjon Security Handicap (1800m).
“It certainly looks the right race for him,” Eurell said.
“We are just hoping that 1800 metres is what he’s looking for at the moment.”
“He usually races well at Caulfield, usually handles the wet and has actually drawn a good barrier (four) for a change so he should get into a reasonable position there on Saturday.
“It’s his fourth run in so he’s super fit and in good shape and will have no excuses.”
Eurell was stunned when Red Colossus finished last in the Golden Mile (1600m) when second-up at Bendigo on March 17 but saw some merit in his midfield eighth in the Victoria Handicap (1400m), a race he won last year.
“It has been hard to work him out this campaign,” Eurell said.
“He’s given us nothing to focus on at all.
“He is doing everything he normally does at home so on face value he should be racing better.
“His biggest disappointing run to me was at Bendigo and while his last run was a little bit better when he got a long way back, he needs to do a lot more.
“We just hope he can turn it around.”
Meanwhile, a change of environment maybe doing the trick for the Peter Snowden-trained Bereft who is having his second Melbourne run this campaign in the Ranvet Handicap (1400m).
Stable foreman Paul Snowden said Bereft got easily bored but he was enjoying his time since arriving from Sydney.
“He’s the type of horse who clocks off and gets sick of what he’s doing and just goes through the motions but he hasn’t been down here before and we’re hoping we can get the best out of him again,” Snowden said.
At his Melbourne debut two weeks ago he was an eye-catching second to Magnifique Soleil when storming home from second last in the 16-horse field over 1400 metres at Flemington.
“He ran out of his skin at Flemington,” Snowden said.
“He’s a good tough campaigner who loves wet tracks and he’s still got wins left in him.
