Jockey Colin Haddon is confident Desert Thorn can justify his market status and win the Tabtouch Broome Sprint (1300m) for the second time in three years on Tuesday.
Desert Thorn has won four races in Broome this season including his past two and in an open event the Jim Enright-trained eight-year-old holds $3.80 favouritism.
“I’ve had a couple rides on him for a few wins and I think he is a live chance,” Colin Haddon told The Races WA.
“He has held form all year and horses for courses I don’t think you can look beyond him really.
“I definitely wouldn’t be swapping him for anything else in the race and I’m looking forward to riding him.”
Haddon hopes Desert Thorn can hold out Darwin raiders Smuggling and Eastwood, third and fourth respectively in last month’s Palmerston Sprint (1200m).
He also gives the Sean and Jake Casey-trained Song Of Vincent a big chance, particularly if the seven-year-old is able to find the front and dictate.
“I’ve ridden in a couple of Palmerston Sprints and the horses that come out of it are pretty handy,” Haddon said.
“To even get a run in the Palmerston Sprint is not easy, so I was pretty interested to see them come across.
“Song Of Vincent is always a handy one, especially if he gets a nice easy lead.
“It’s a pretty open race, but hopefully we get the job done.”
In a field of 13 starters, Haddon will ride Desert Thorn from barrier two.
“He does get that little far off them, but I’ll still have a little bit to play around with,” Haddon said.
“Whether I have to go around horses or something opens up on the rails
“I don’t think he will hit the ground running, but he can sustain a long run.
“From the 700m I’ll be starting to put him into the race and see what develops in front of us.”
Simone Altieri steered Desert Thorn to win the Broome Sprint in 2019.
