Distance Should Suit Flying Lucky
- Friday, 28 August 2015 08:50
Trainer Ben Currie has no qualms about taking his second major gamble in a week when Flying Lucky tackles open company at Doomben.
Flying Lucky has won his past three starts at provincial tracks in good fashion but on paper is taking a big step up to open company Saturday's the Bottle O Open (2200m).
He is a rating 70 horse in an open company race but Currie believes Flying Lucky can confirm his ability with a win.
"I was going to wait a week and run Flying Lucky in a benchmark race on Saturday week. But we have been wanting to get him out to the 2200 metres and to wait for that race would have been three weeks between runs," Currie said.
"It isn't a strong race. A lot of these horses appear to be either past their best or not racing well."
"In the end you have to give him a chance and if he is as good as I hope, why should we be afraid of these horses."
Currie took a similar gamble with Honey Toast last Saturday when he stepped him up from 1600 to 2240m.
"It was a gamble with Honey Toast but he did score a good win at the distance," Currie said.
He said there wasn't much between Honey Toast and Flying Lucky although they were different styles of horses.
"Honey Toast has the better turn of foot but once they get past 2000 metres I think they are pretty level," he added.
Flying Lucky has strolled home to wins at the Gold Coast (over 1400m), Beaudesert (1650m) and Toowoomba (1870m) at his past three starts.
"They have been soft wins and that is the best pointer for him," Currie said.
"I really feel he is a stayer on the way up and we will see how far he has come on Saturday."
Paul Hammersley, who won on Flying Lucky at Beaudesert, will be reunited with the gelding on Saturday.
Hammersley has won many top staying races including the 2002 Group One Queensland Oaks on Mon Mekki and this year's Group Two Brisbane Cup on Jetset Lad.
"Paul is a very good jockey in any race but he is a master with stayers. I am glad to have him on board," Currie said.
