Dynamic duo set to lead charge
SPREYTON trainer Barry Campbell has had a lot of success at Easter Monday meetings on his home track in recent years — and there is a good chance that will continue today.
Campbell has a strong team entered for the seven-race card, of which lightly raced four-year-old Cranbrook and his exciting filly Breathtaking loom as his best winning hopes.
Cranbrook will carry top weight of 58kg in the class three handicap over 1350m (race 2), but the trip looks ideal for the gelded son of Master of Design.
He has won two of his five starts this season with his latest victory impressive over 1200m in Launceston just over three weeks ago.
The gelding was to race last Wednesday week but the race was deleted because of insufficient acceptors.
“Cranbrook is in very good order and this looks a nice race for him,” Campbell said.
“He has done well since his last run and he is very fit.”
Breathtaking scored an im- pressive all-the-way win firstup in Launceston over 1220m when allowed to bowl along at her leisure.
But at her two subsequent outings she led but was restrained and both times she was outgunned over the concluding stages in class one events over 1200m.
Craig Newitt has partnered the filly in all three of her outings this time in.
“I can’t fault Breathtaking in her work so I would think it is a very winnable race for her,” Campbell said. “She’s drawn a wide barrier but she has good early speed that can overcome the bad gate.”
Breathtaking was a beaten favourite at her past two starts but if allowed to set a solid tempo in front she can turn that around today.
Speedy Illusion, a last-start winner in Launceston on March 7, looms as her main danger. Campbell also saddles up last-start winner Carmina and the much-improved Dubbo.
Carmina goes around in a class one handicap over 1350m (race 5) and she would only need to replicate her recent form to win again, while Dubbo will need luck from a wide gate (11) in the benchmark 58 handicap but she could appreciate stepping up to 1650m for the first time.