RALPH BAKER HAPPY TO DRAW INSIDE FOR ATHERTON CUP
GORDONVALE trainer Ralph Baker has finally drawn a favourable gate with Atherton Cup hopeful Bold Avenue.
Baker was grumbling earlier this week about the poor run of luck he has had with drawing an inside gate for his impressive six-year-old, despite his encouraging form of late.
The gelding came from the wide alley of 13 in the Cairns Amateurs Cup earlier this month before bolting down the outside of the field to finish an eye-catching third to winner Multifacets.
Baker found some luck on Thursday, drawing the coveted barrier of one, for the $16,000 2018 Atherton Cup this afternoon.
Bold Avenue has jumped from 13 in his last two starts and Baker says he will be much better suited this afternoon as he chases his first win since June at Innisfail.
“Barrier one is the best draw and they get progressively worse after that,” Baker said with a chuckle.
“You do not have to make much luck there if you do get inside, it is there for you.
“In distance races, it is about barrier draws and how things pan out and you see how they go from there.”
Baker was pleased with the way his gelding ran at the big odds of $21 in the Amateurs Cup and says he has trained on nicely in the fortnight since.
“We did not get many favours with the barrier draw in the Amateurs Cup,” Baker said.
“He has done well since then, there is nothing to be concerned about him.
“I am pretty happy with him. “He is an honest horse.” Cairns hoop Sonja Wiseman, who rode a winner at Rockhampton on Thursday, retains the job on Bold Avenue after her nice ride in the Amateurs Cup.
Baker believes local trainers Roy Chillemi, who has three runners in the Atherton Cup, and Janel Ryan will have the advantage today as they train on track.
In the 2017 Atherton Cup, former Cairns-based jockey John Lambie won the Cup with the Trevor Rowe-trained Stable Surprize, from How Can I Help, who will contest the race again today.
How Can I Help claimed the Innisfail Produce Cup last month.