Bold Avenue faces big test

BOLD Avenue gets a chance to prove himself this afternoon in the North Queensland Cup.

Purchased and sent north to tackle the upcoming rich stayers’ races – Townsville next month and Cairns not long after – trainer Ralph Baker is buoyed after his runs for his stable.

A third at Atherton followed by a win at Innisfail has encouraged the Gordonvale trainer but he knows the gelding will need to show a fair bit more today from his outside gate in the $ 20,000 event over 1600m. two debut

Today’s North Queensland Cup has drawn a strong field, with the winner gaining an automatic start in the Townsville Cup on July 28.

“It is a big pretty step up but we have got to the stage now of we need to find out if he can go forward into the bigger Cup races or drop him into a few lower- class races,” Baker said. “We have got him going pretty well now since coming up and we will see if he is up to this kind of race.

“If he can’t race well this week with the lightweights, he will not measure up later on … This is his chance.”

Previously trained by Gar- nett Taylor on the Sunshine Coast, the five- year- old has recorded wins at 1600m or longer at Rockhampton, Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast earlier in his career.

Claiming apprentice jockey Corey Bayliss rode Bold Avenue on a number of occasions while in southeast Queensland and travels north for the ride, which has given Baker confidence.

Meanwhile, Cairns trainer Trevor Rowe says Stable Surprize is shaping up to be a contender for Cups races this year.

Like Bold Avenue, Stable Surprize has drawn wide today but Rowe is optimistic.