Wide Draw To Suit Lucky Dubai
- Tuesday, 01 November 2011 02:16
A wide draw will work in favour of Queensland mare Lucky Dubai as trainer Kim Craft tries to continue a family affinity with the Hawkesbury Gold Cup.
Lucky Dubai has drawn the deepest gate in a capacity field of 16 for Thursday's Sydney provincial feature but Craft says the barrier will be an advantage.
"She always runs better from outside draws because she's not happy racing inside horses," Craft said.
"When she drew an inside gate at Eagle Farm last time she didn't get out until a few strides past the post."
Leading Brisbane jockey Jim Byrne, who won on Lucky Dubai at Eagle Farm two starts ago, will take the ride in the $150,000 race.
Craft's father Col Harwood, who died in July, trained three Hawkesbury Gold Cup winners - Magic Road (1995 and 1996) and Thrifty Reserve (1993).
"It's a race with some significance for my family and it would be nice to emulate Dad in winning it," Craft said.
Lucky Dubai is one of the outsiders at $23 in TAB Sportsbet's opening market with dashing sprinter Somepin Anypin dominating betting at $1.65.
Whereas Lucky Dubai is a five-time winner over the Cup distance, Somepin Anypin is on trial at the 1600 metres.
But the Gary Portelli-trained galloper has been in devastating form with wins at his last two starts, including a track record victory over 1400 metres at Rosehill.
He, too, has drawn wide in gate 14 but it's unlikely to stop jockey Jim Cassidy from pressing forward - tactics he has employed with success this campaign.
If early betting translates into how the race will unfold, in-form trainer Guy Walter will supply one of the few dangers to Somepin Anypin.
Walter, who saddled up Foxstar to win at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day, will be represented by honest miler Willy Jimmy, an $8 chance.
The Warwick Farm trainer had hopes of running Willy Jimmy in the $1 million Group One Emirates Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
"It looks like he won't get a run in the Emirates," Walter said.
"Hawkesbury is not really his track but he is number 24 in the ballot for the Emirates and he is getting to a rating where he is hard to place."
