Compelling Truth is the rank outsider of the JRA Plate field while stablemate Crown Legend is at similar odds for the Highway Handicap, but trainer Mack Griffith is adamant both horses will perform better than markets suggest.
A 12-time winner, Compelling Truth is the only one of the eight runners in Saturday’s Group 3 race at double-figure odds, marked at $26.
However, he has previously claimed the scalp of race favourite, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained The Instructor, and first-up last campaign finished second to subsequent Group 1 placegetter Angel Capital in Listed grade at Moonee Valley.
“I don’t know whether it’s just because he’s a country-trained horse but he is fit and he’s well and I was very surprised at the price,” the Mudgee-based Griffith said.
“He has beaten the horse of Gai’s before, The Instructor. When we won the Wagga Town Plate it ran third in the race.
“He’ll run a good, honest race like he always does and I’m just happy to get him back to the track.”
Compelling Truth was spelled after failing to beat a rival home in The Kosciuszko (1200m), but Griffith said he had excuses that day and his recent trial win indicated he had returned in great order.
“He had a small trickle out of his nose which didn’t help, but just the way it was run didn’t suit him,” he said of the Kosciuszko performance.
“He likes to bowl along in front, and something took off and upset the whole rhythm of the race.
“The plan was to go to Melbourne with him next week. We were going to bypass Sydney because we thought it would be too strong.
“But then this race wasn’t as strong as we thought, and although there are no easy ones in this grade, it’s easier than going all the way to Melbourne to meet the same sort of horses.”
Crown Legend will join Compelling Truth on the float to Sydney with Saturday’s Highway Plate (1500m) marking his first foray to town.
The four-year-old came from off the speed to score at Gunnedah last start and from barrier five, Griffiths believes his $26 quote might also be inflated.
“His two runs back have been full of merit,” he said.
“There will be plenty of speed, which will suit him. He will hit the line strongly.
“They don’t give us much chance in either race, but I think they will both go better than their odds suggest.”
