Classy two-year-old The Drinks Cart is no certainty to contest the Group One J J Atkins despite ensuring he will make the field with an easy Gold Coast win.
The Drinks Cart ($1.90) was having his first start since January and was eased down to score by 2-1/4 lengths in Friday’s Stronger 2YO Handicap (900m).
The race was metropolitan class meaning The Drinks Cart lifted his earnings to nearly $74,000 which will be enough to get into the field for the J J Atkins (1400m) on June 6 at Eagle Farm.
Trent Edmonds, who prepares the gelding in partnership with his father Toby, said The Drinks Cart might be too brilliant to take on Group One horses over 1400m.
“Then again he did give them a belting today. He will need another run before the Atkins and the logical race is the (Group Two) Champagne Classic in two weeks,” Edmonds said.
“If he shows us in that race he will struggle at 1400 metres we can come back in distance to the Dalrello Stakes a week later than the Atkins.”
Giant Toowoomba gelding Command’n’conquer suffered his first defeat but lost no fans with his second in the Lord Mayor Handicap (900m).
Trainer Steve Tregea took Command’n’conquer to the Gold Coast to give him experience on the track before next week’s Gold Coast Guineas.
It proved a wise move because Command’n’conquer ($1.50)looked uncomfortable after being run off his legs early and settling third last.
Command’n’conquer was pushed wide on the home turn before running home for second behind noted speedster Archer’s Paradox ($9).
“That was always going to be the problem that they would just be too fast at 900 metres,” Tregea said.
“But he made up a lot of ground when he got balanced so you have to be happy. He can have two days having a pick in a paddock on the farm and then be back for next week.”
Command’n’conquer, who won his first three starts, will tackle the Guineas on Saturday week and then the Fred Best Classic at Doomben on May 30.
