Trainer Natalie McCall believes the decision to raise the weights for the Listed Tattersall’s Mile will help Colour Charge who is now the topweight.
Colour Charge originally had 55kg in Saturday’s race at Doomben but under Racing Queensland rules the weights had to be lifted three kilos when original topweights Sound Proposition and Marenostro were not among the acceptors.
While Colour Charge now has 58kg, the rest of the field, who originally had 54kg, will carry 57.5kg in the non-claiming race.
Colour Charge won the Listed Tattersall’s Members’ Cup in March and at his most recent start won the Rockhampton Cup.
McCall said while there were handy horses in Saturday’s race Colour Charge had the best form in stakes races.
“He might have 58 kilos but the others all have to carry only half a kilo less. Not being too harsh but some of them should still have 54,” McCall said.
“I thought we weren’t too badly off at the weights originally and now even more so.”
Colour Charge will be having his first start in a month after the Rockhampton win which was his 10th in a career marked by his consistency.
Five of his wins including the Rockhampton Cup have been over 1600 metres.
“He is like a lot of the Red Dazzler breed who seem able to hold their form for season after season,” McCall said.
She scratched him from both Doomben and Warwick Farm in Sydney two weeks ago, unhappy with his blood picture.
“I wasn’t happy with his blood after the trip to Rocky and then back. So I thought a freshen-up wouldn’t do him any harm,” McCall said.
“I have been happy with him since and this is an ideal race for him.”
McCall hasn’t ruled out a Sydney trip for Colour Charge but wants to see how he comes through Saturday before making any firm plans.
James Orman, who won the Members’ Cup on Colour Charge, will ride the gelding on Saturday after central Queensland jockey Adrian Coome won the Rockhampton Cup on him.
