Trainer Peter Hulbert has put aside his disappointment at the first-up defeat of Cooroi Chase after examining the sectional times for the race.
Cooroi Chase, one of Brisbane’s better two-year-olds last season, will be having her second run back from a spell in the Three-Year-Old Handicap (1200m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
On her return to racing at Ipswich she finished fifth, beaten a tick under three lengths, behind Wonder Boom in an 1100m-restricted class race.
Hulbert admitted he was disappointed but after studying the race video and times he had perked up.
“She had trialled nicely leading into the race but drew badly and Will (co-trainer Hulbert) and Michael (jockey Hellyer) thought her best chance was to go back from the start,” Hulbert said.
“As it turned out leaders had a field day up there and it was the wrong way to go.”
He said the winner had run 33.35 seconds for his last 600m which meant Cooroi Chase got very close to 33 seconds.
“That will win most races and I would expect her to be closer on Saturday over 1200 metres,” Hulbert said.
“There looks to be plenty of pace in the race and a bit of rain around which suits.
Cooroi Chase has won $102,000 prize money from four starts and Hulbert is hoping to build up her bank with the summer feature races fast approaching.