Trainer Matt Dunn is almost getting to the stage where he doesn’t want to talk about barriers for Care To Think who reaches his winter grand final in the Stradbroke Handicap.
Care To Think is overdue for some good luck at the barrier draw on Wednesday ahead of Brisbane’s premier sprint at Doomben.
The gelding was an eye-catching sixth in the Group One Doomben 10,000 on May 12 when he came from second last from a wide gate.
His run of bad barriers continued in the Kingsford Smith Cup on May 26 when he drew the outside barrier and again had to go back to last.
At his past six starts Care To Think has drawn a single digit barrier once.
An exasperated Dunn said it was no use whingeing about the bad barriers.
“He just can’t get a decent barrier. We have just had to have to make the best of them,” Dunn said.
“Care To Think doesn’t have to go back. If there is no pace inside him he can roll forward and get a good position. It is a matter of where he draws.”
Care to Think drops from 59kg in his recent weight-for-age assignments to 52kg in the Stradbroke (1350m).
Sydney jockey Tim Clark will take over from James McDonald who can’t make the weight in the Stradbroke.
Clark has been in great form in Brisbane over the carnival highlighted by his wins on English in the Doomben 10,000, Dark Dream in the Rough Habit Plate and two stakes wins on Perast who he will be riding against in the Stradbroke.
Impending, last year’s winner, and three-year-old filly Champagne Cuddles are the $4.60 equal favourites ahead of the declaration of the final field and barrier draw for the Stradbroke with Perast next at $7.50 and Care To Think at $8.50.
