Star apprentice Luke Tarrant hopes his dreams of winning the Magic Millions Classic don’t get washed away.
The Gold Coast track is certain to be soft on Saturday after more rain fell during the week.
Le Chef – Luke Tarrant
However, Tarrant is hoping the track’s impressive drainage system can help it get back close to a good rating.
Tarrant will have his first Classic ride on Le Chef who scored an impressive win at the Gold Coast last Saturday.
Le Chef has drawn ideally for a dry track in barrier three.
“Give me a dry track and we are right in it,” Tarrant said.
“I know he won on a soft track last start but he didn’t really handle it.”
“Still, they are all two-year-olds and they all have to get through it.”
Tarrant has had a wonderful season, being fourth on the Australian jockeys premiership list with 62 winners.
He also leads the Brisbane metropolitan premiership with 40 wins and scored his biggest success to date on Rudy in the Group Two Villiers at Randwick last month.
Trainer Darryl Hansen is also hoping for drying conditions but is confident Le Chef will race well.
Le Chef’s owner Lenore Saunders is hoping for better luck than her son Andrew had with the gelding’s full-brother Le Cap in the Townsville Cleveland Bay Handicap last year.
Le Cap was beaten a nose in a deceptive finish in the race regarded as Queensland’s top country sprint.
Lenore Saunders bought Le Chef because he is a full-brother to Le Cap with both being by top sire Exceed And Excel out of the Testa Rossa mare Red For Lou.
She paid $120,000 for Le Chef at last year’s Magic Millions sales and the gelding has now returned $55,700.
However, there is a big pay cheque waiting in the Classic even if Le Chef can’t win or run a place.
Le Chef is one of six runners who will be also chasing a $500,000 bonus for horses raced by women.
