Barrier to help re-Verse fortune
JOCKEY Mark Du Plessis acknowledges his key rivals will have similar levels of improvement going into today’s Group 3 George Moore Stakes but he believes the barrier draw can give Chapter And Verse the edge.
While Keith Noud Quality winner Outback Barbie goes from gate 4 to 13, Chapter And Verse will be enjoying a soft run from barrier 2.
Du Plessis dismissed any concerns about racing inside horses and said there should be no excuses today.
“I don’t see why (he can’t turn the tables),” he said.
“They will all improve as well but they aren’t drawn quite as well as they were last time.
“He has a nice draw so hopefully we can take advantage of that and put him in the race. I think he just peaked on his run first-up.”
Chapter And Verse was beaten just under two lengths when fourth to Outback Barbie in the Keith Noud Quality (1200m) on November 9.
“He did run very well but he’s definitely taken improvement out of that run,” Du Plessis said.
“Everything says he’s a happy horse. If the real horse turns up, which I’m sure he will, he’s a top chance.”
Du Plessis has won three races on the Desleigh Forstertrained five-year-old, including this year’s Magic Millions QTIS on the Gold Coast.
While Chapter And Verse is noted as a first-up specialist, he has won twice secondup.
“He’s furnished a bit more compared to last year. I’m excited to keep my association with him,” the jockey said.
Du Plessis’ Doomben rides today include Boomtown Lass, who needs to overcome a horror draw (17) if she’s to win first-up in the BenchMark 75 Handicap (1100m).
“Hopefully it’s not too sticky from the 1110m with a draw like that,” he said.
Trainer Chris Anderson said he was committed to starting Boomtown Lass today, to keep the program he has heading to the Magic Millions QTIS race on January 11 in alignment.
“I’ve told the owners that we go to the races (today) not with expectations of winning, but hoping,” Anderson said.
“Her fate will be determined in the first 200m.”