Bjorn Baker cannot fault the free-wheeling Samadoubt ahead of the gelding’s quest to win a third feature race at Randwick in as many months.
Samadoubt led all the way to cause a boilover in the Group One Winx Stakes (1400m) in August and showed the performance was no fluke when he backed it up with a Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) victory in September.
Since then he has run on two unsuitable soft tracks when unplaced in the George Main Stakes (1600m) and nabbed by Verry Elleegant on the line in the Hill Stakes (2000m).
He returns to the Randwick 2000 metres for Saturday’s Group Three Craven Plate and crucially, the horse will find himself on his favoured firm ground.
Baker said Samadoubt had continued to thrive and expected him to be hard to beat again.
“He pulled up perfect and he’s in great order,” Baker said.
“I couldn’t be happier with him.”
Regular rider Tim Clark will again partner Samadoubt whose seven rivals include the ageless Happy Clapper.
Clark says a firm track will be a big plus for his horse, who he expects to find the front despite the presence of Stampede who also likes to dictate terms.
“He doesn’t have to lead but I would be surprised if he didn’t,” Clark said of Samadoubt.
“I think had the track been dry (last start) he probably wins but he still ran out of his skin.”
Clark is also thankful to see a firm track for his St Leger Stakes (2600m) mount Hush Writer who he felt struggled to let down when sixth on a rain-affected track in the Group One Metropolitan Handicap (2400m).
He is just hoping the Japanese import is in a better pre-race mood.
“Hopefully he doesn’t headbutt me before the race again,” Clark said.
“It’s disappointing he hit that wet track the other day because I thought he was a great hope and it just dulled his sprint a bit.
“Dry track Saturday, 2600, Gai and Adrian have got the Japanese horses flying so I’m looking forward to riding him.”
