Trainer David Murphy’s theory his gelding Bel Burgess is better at 1400m than 1600m will be put to the test at Eagle Farm.
Bel Burgess has turned in good efforts at his past two runs at 1600m finishing fourth at the Sunshine Coast and then third at Doomben.
He drops back to 1400m in an open handicap at Eagle Farm where he has drawn barrier one.
Murphy could have looked for another 1600m race for Bel Burgess but felt Saturday’s race would suit better.
“A few people have labelled him a miler but I don’t think that is exactly right,” Murphy said.
“He has won a couple of times around 1600m in Melbourne and he did run second at 1600m in a Caulfield race worth $250,000.
“But they run 1600m races there differently to here. We tend to go flat out from the start in not just 1600m races.
“I reckon Bel Burgess can get 1600m when he strolls to the lead and can dictate. If they attack him he struggles.”
Murphy said Bel Burgess’s record at 1400m backed up his opinion.
“He has won four times at 1400m including in some pretty handy fields. One of his best runs here was at 1400m at Caloundra when Belflyer and Sold For Song just got him at the finish,” Murphy said.
“That is good form for most races.”
He said barrier one was always an advantage and would suit Bel Burgess’ on pace style.
“There doesn’t look to be a lot of other pace in the race but if something wants to be silly and attack him he can take a sit,” Murphy said.
In recent times Murphy has cut his team back to six horses.
“I can handle them myself and when you get more it starts to boost the costs. It seems to be the way things are going with many trainers with middle-sized numbers cutting back,” he said.
Meanwhile, another Eagle Farm trainer Paul Butterworth has taken a long-term view with Rockhampton Newmarket winner Wonder Boom.
He had nominated Wonder Boom for Eagle Farm on Saturday and the $100,000 Cleveland Bay Handicap (1200m) in Townsville on Thursday.
However, Butterworth decided to race in Brisbane because it fitted in better with Wonder Boom’s long-term goal in the Magic Millions QTIS race in January.
