Beaten Arrowfield Sprint favourite Kuro is still on track to run in the Group 1 $500,000 Ubet BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben during the Brisbane Winter Carnival.
Kuro is still on target to run in the BTC Cup at Doomben in the Brisbsne Winter Carnival. Photo by Steve Hart.
Kuro was sent out the $2.45 favourite for the Group 2 $500,000 Arrowfield 3yo Sprint (1200m) at Randwick last Saturday but trainer Joe Pride is willing to forget the run after the colt was a well beaten eighth to Delectation.
“The horse has pulled up extremely well,’’ Pride told the Daily Telegraph.
“He got back in the field and lost all confidence. He just didn’t get into the contest.”
At his previous start Kuro raced on the pace and held on well in the straight to finish second to the Gai Waterhouse trained Sweet Idea in the Group 1 $400,000 Canadian Club Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on March 21.
Then at Randwick from a wide barrier Blake Shinn ended up near the tail of the field after failing to get any cover and Kuro was unable to make up any ground in the heavy conditions.
Pride said he would send the Denman colt to the paddock for a week before stepping up his work again before heading to Queensland.
“I’m going to give him a week in the paddock and then it is four weeks to the BTC Cup,” Pride said.
“He is a three-year-old and we have nothing to lose but to have a go at winning a Group 1 race and this will be his last opportunity this season.’’
Kuro could be joined in Brisbane by his stablemates, Rock Sturdy, Rain Affair, Target In Sight and Craftiness, all of whom are engaged in the Group 3 $150,000 Ticketek Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Group 1 $400,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) contender Laser Hawk could also earn himself a trip to the Sunshine State if he performs creditably at Randwick.
“Rock Sturdy is coming along really well but I’m not sure if I can justify running him first-up on a wet track when he is returning after a tendon (injury),’’ Pride said.
“Rain Affair has run well at his last two starts and if it is wet, then that obviously suits him. He’s a very fit horse.
“Target In Sight is in great form but he needs the track to be between dead to slow, no worse.
“Craftiness did win on a track that was pretty bad at Doomben first-up but his jockey was adamant the horse didn’t handle it and he won because he is a classy horse.’’
