Doughty To Get Sydney Guide For Captain
- Thursday, 22 September 2011 04:15
Queenslander State Of Wealth's performance at Rosehill on Saturday may serve as a useful guide for trainer Kelly Doughty whether to send Morning Captain interstate following the three-year-old's Doomben assignment.
Morning Captain was runner-up to State Of Wealth over 1110 metres at Doomben last start and will be attempting to break through for his first win in three starts in Saturday's Industrial & Protective Coatings Qld Handicap (1200m).
The Brian Smith-trained State Of Wealth arrived in Sydney last week for the Group Two Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) which will determine if the three-year-old proceeds to next month's Group One Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in Melbourne.
Smith believes State Of Wealth would be better off spelling to prepare for the Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast in January but has bowed to connections' wishes to chase their Group One dream in Melbourne.
Doughty hopes to use State Of Wealth's performance against Group One Golden Rose winner Manawanui as a guide to her three-year-old's ability.
"My horse is still only a maiden but he's a very good racehorse," Doughty said.
"He went close to winning last time but unfortunately he ran into State Of Wealth.
"Morning Captain is eligible for BOBS races in Sydney and I may send him down there for those types of races if he runs well on Saturday.
"But I'll be interested to see how State Of Wealth goes and I'll see what he does first before I finalise anything for my fellow."
Morning Captain, a son of Danbird, was a cheap $3,500 buy for Vince Dickson who owns a Brisbane advertising company and has already paid for himself with $13,000 in prize money courtesy of his two placings at Caloundra and Doomben.
Doughty has no reason to doubt Morning Captain's ability to step up to 1200 metres for the first time and acknowledged drawing barrier one would be an advantage.
"He normally races a bit handy but from the rails he'll probably lead," Doughty said.
Doughty is confident Morning Captain has the class to prevail but fears Smith could again prove to be her nemesis.
"Brian's horse, Venture On, has won his only two starts and he looks to be our biggest danger," she said.
Venture On, a Ric McMahon mount, made a strong debut when scoring easily in a 1200-metre maiden at Caloundra last month before a similar impressive win in an Open three-year-old race at the same venue on September 1.
