Currie’s leading hope
Drop back to 1200 a big bonus
RACING: As the racing fraternity rings in the new year, Toowoomba trainers are looking to strike at the first meeting of 2020.
Despite being down in the ratings, the Mark Currietrained Vibrato shapes as a leading contender in the Class 4 Handicap (1200m).
The gelding gets in with just 54kg after the claim from Baylee Nothdurft, bringing strong formlines into the event.
After an effortless win first up at Clifford Park, he backed it up with a narrow placing to the flying Colpo Di Tamburo, before running fifth in Saturday grade at Eagle Farm over seven furlongs.
He drops back to six today, with Currie believing that could be the trick to add his fourth career win.
“Jason Holder rode him last start and said he didn’t think he could run the 1400,” Currie said.
“He had 59kg and got towards the front and was found wanting a bit over the concluding stages.
“The 1200 will suit him a lot better. Hopefully we can sit just off the pace and he can get over the top of them.
“The horse is in good order and has everything going in his favour.
“He’s an honest horse and he gives his all, he just needs to relax a bit more in the run.”
The Charlotte White and Les ‘Bubba’ Tilley combination combines again in the Class 3 Handicap (1650m) with the promising Louie La’Joy.
The four-year-old enters his seventh run of the preparation, however he is coming off a career-best run, smashing rivals by six-andthree-quarter lengths at Gatton on December 9.
Tilley has ridden the gelding for two of his three career victories.
Barry Squair has Toorak Comedy engaged in the event.
Later in the day, John Dann is hoping up-and-coming three-year-old Jakama can make it consecutive victories in the Class 1 Handicap (1200m).
After running fourth on debut at Clifford Park in July, the gelding broke his maiden when resuming from a spell at the Sunshine Coast.
He is expected to go forward once again after drawing wide.
Michael Frapell’s Strong Desire looks to break his maiden, while Hold On (Paul Nolan Jnr) and Tisani Rose (Kevin Kemp) also go around.