Norman looks for pot of gold in city
HARDY Gold Coast gelding Lota Creek Gold will skip the Ballina Cup today to take on open company in Brisbane.
Trainer Harold Norman had entered Lota Creek Gold for the Ballina race but has opted to head to Eagle Farm tomorrow for the Open Handicap (1600m) which has a smaller field of 10.
“He has come along nicely since his last-start fourth in the Lismore Christmas Cup which was a good run,” Norman said.
“Lota Creek Gold gets better with racing. That was his second-up run and I think he has had six second-up runs and never finished in the place money.
“But many of his wins have been third-up.”
Lota Creek Gold has won seven races after mixing his career with Norman at the Gold Coast and Kevin Hansen in central Queensland.
Five of his wins have been for female jockeys with Brooke Ainsworth aboard at the gelding’s past two victories last year and Rikki Palmer to ride at Eagle Farm tomorrow.
Palmer is Norman’s former apprentice and rides much of the veteran trainer’s trackwork. “Usually it is a case of who is available to ride him,” Norman said.
“Rikki and Brooke are great friends and both are riding plenty of winners. So it is a win-win situation for me.”
Norman, 82, has no doubt Lota Creek Gold is up to Brisbane open company.
“There doesn’t look to be a lot of pace in Saturday’s race so he should be able to take up a good position,” he said.
“A lot of the better horses have either gone back south or are waiting for the Sunshine Coast Cup next week.
“So this is his chance.” Eagle Farm trainer Lauren Abbott is hoping a drop in weight can help stakes winner Gold Symphony return to form in the race.
Since resuming from a spell he has struggled under the weight scale and finished last at Murwillumbah on December 29 with 61kg.
Abbott also entered him for the Ballina Cup and Eagle Farm, where he will carry 52kg after apprentice Jackson Murphy’s claim. “A lighter weight and the 1600 metres should help him,” she said.