Desleigh Forster believes the adaptable racing pattern of Couldn’t Refuse is an important factor in his favour at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
With the likelihood of a muddling tempo in the class six handicap (1600m), Forster is confident Couldn’t Refuse is versatile enough to cope with that scenario.
“You can put him in the race or put him out the back – he’s pretty adaptable,” Forster said.
“He proved when he won at Eagle Farm last start that he’s not one-dimensional.”
Couldn’t Refuse has been in dynamic form this campaign, winning his past two starts with Jim Byrne aboard.
“He’s starting to mature and live up to the expectations I’ve had of him,” Forster said.
“He’s got a super record at the mile, loves the track and Jimmy gets along really well with him.”
Couldn’t Refuse boasts an unblemished record at the Sunshine Coast from two appearances and is building an impressive record at 1600 metres with three wins and a second placing from five attempts.
Forster believes Couldn’t Refuse will be competitive in middle distance races in the long-term but is content to keep to mile races at this point in his current preparation.
“There’s no suitable 2000 metre races around for him and this race fell into place lovely for him,” she said.
The gelding is a brother to Too Good To Refuse, who won five races and half a million dollars in prize money for Forster.
Byrne and Forster were in winning form at Eagle Farm on Thursday when Georgie’s Pride was successful in class two company, lowering the colours of the odds-on favourite Bustedup.
Couldn’t Refuse ($3.90) is challenging the Matt Dunn-trained Penshurst ($3.80) for favouritism in TAB fixed odds pre-post betting.
Penshurst is unbeaten in two starts this campaign including a spectacular win from near-last on the home turn in the Ballina Cup on January 15.
Chris Waller has removed blinkers from Orcein in a bid to coax the gelding back to winning form after he finished a disappointing last at Rosehill on January 16.
