Trainer Kim Craft is relying on the adage “horses for courses” to end a city drought at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Craft has not saddled a Brisbane metropolitan winner since her recently-retired Toptwo was successful in a restricted midweek race at Doomben on January 5.
However, she remains hopeful her stable star Lucky Dubai can break through in the Avant Garden Recruitment Handicap (1500m).
Prior to Toptwo’s success at the start of the year, Craft’s previous city winner was with Lucky Dubai who was successful at Eagle Farm in October last year during a stellar run which included four successive victories at the track.
Lucky Dubai has had two starts back this campaign, both on her hoodoo track at Doomben.
The five-year-old mare tailed the field most of the way when resuming with a moderate eighth to Funtantes in an unsuitable 1200-metre Quality for fillies and mares at Doomben on September 10.
The daughter of Dubai Destination showed improvement at her next start with a solid-finishing fifth against her own sex at Doomben a fortnight later.
Craft remains mystified why Lucky Dubai has never won at Doomben where she has failed to be placed in all six attempts.
Her Doomben record is in stark contrast to Eagle Farm where she has six wins and a second from 14 starts.
Craft also hopes the weights which have turned in Lucky Dubai’s favour will be a plus.
Lucky Dubai conceded a kilogram to Risk Aversion when they met last time while the Michael Lakey-trained mare is now 1.5 kilograms worse off against Craft’s sprinter.
Craft, who has a small team of five horses in work, is unsure why Lucky Dubai saves her best for Eagle Farm.
“She goes a lot better at Eagle Farm but I think that’s because Doomben might be too small for her,” she said.
“She likes the open spaces at Eagle Farm.”
Craft was delighted with Lucky Dubai’s last performance and is considering a trip to Sydney if the mare returns to her best form.
“Her last run was brilliant,” Craft said.
“She hit a flat spot about 150 metres out but she was right once she saw daylight.
“She’s back to her right track and distance in this but I still think Risk Aversion is the one to beat.
“But they’ll know my mare is there.”
Craft is yet to study her Sydney options with Lucky Dubai and will be guided by her performance whether to head south.
“There’s no races suitable for her here in the next few months and if she goes well we’re seriously looking at taking her to Sydney.”
AAP TURF
