The perfect Queensland Autumn weather will guarantee a super racing surface at Doomben tomorrow and should see the return to form of Toowoomba four year old Carry Me Bluey.
The Norm Hilton trained Carry Me Bluey is taking on a slick field in the Group 3 $125,000 Darley BRC Sprint (1350m) and the Toowoomba trainer is looking forward to his stable star being able to produce his best back on a good track.
Hillton hasn’t been disappointed with Carry Me Bluey’s two runs back from a spell but is expecting a vast improvement on his fourth on a heavy track behind Celtic Dancer in the Listed $175,000 Carlton Draught Prime Minister’s Cup (1300m) at the Gold Coast on May 5.
“The track was a bit wet for him at the Gold Coast but he gritted his teeth and ploughed through,” Hilton said.
“He was handling it until Chris let him off the bit when they straightened but he is better off on top of the ground.”
“Chris said at the Gold Coast he would have just won that race if it was top of the ground.”
Hilton set his sights on gaining a run in the Group 1 $1m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 9 after Carry Me Bluey continued to improve as he went through the classes during his last campaign.
Carry Me Bluey won in Open company at Eagle Farm on December 17 last year over 1600m before finishing fourth to Kontiki Park in the Listed $200,000 Carlton Mid Bernborough Handicap (1615m) at Doomben on December 31.
Hilton then sent him out for a short spell before resuming for a second to Metallurgical at Eagle Farm over 1200m on April 21 before heading to the Gold Coast.
Hilton will get a good gauge at where he is at with Carry Me Bluey at Doomben, coming up against some tough opposition.
“The top two are obviously pretty handy but a lot of the other horses he has raced against before, I think it is a good race for him,” Hilton said.
“We’re hoping to get into the Stradbroke with him and if he can win this it will be a big help. I think he will run a good race and will be thereabouts at the end.”
Hilton was referring to Smokin’ Joey and Tiger Tees who both have very good southern form.
The Anthony Freedman trained Smokin’ Joey is racing in the best form of his career and shooting for four straight wins after scoring at Sandown, Flemington and a last start win over Under The Eiffel in the Group 3 $125,000 Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on April 7.
And Tiger Tees is coming off a last start win in the Listed Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick for trainer Joe Pride.
Smokin’ Joey showed potential as a two year old but didn’t go on with it in his three year old year but since he has been gelded his form has reached another level.
Jockey Vlad Duric isn’t too concerned with barrier fourteen and said that it might be an advantage with Smokin’ Joey’s as he naturally gets back in his races.
“You never want to be drawing the car park but with a horse like him won’t make a lot of difference because he gets back and gets to the outside anyway,” Duric said.
Smokin’ Joey heads the betting at $3.60 ahead of the Peter Snowden trained Freewheeling at $4.50, with Tiger Tees at $5 and Carry Me Bluey the only other runner under double figures at $8.
