Baker is prepared to raise the Stakes
have fewer runners, with Good Standing also an acceptor at Hawkesbury and Tumbler’s trainer Barry Lockwood set to make a decision on Saturday morning.
Ours To Keep and Snitzkraft, Queensland’s best twoyear-olds behind Houtzen, are both “50-50” chances of running in the Dalrello according to their trainers.
Both galloped in the testing conditions at Eagle Farm on Tuesday.
“It was a gallop that took more out of him than I wanted to,” Chris Munce said of Ours To Keep.
“I should have just galloped him on one of the other tracks like I normally do. I want to see what the weather does. If it rains, he won’t run.” BJORN BAKER
Snitzkraft’s trainer Kelso Wood was scathing in his assessment of conditions on Tuesday.
“Something has to be done. It’s crazy to spend all that money and it has just been a total disaster,” he said.
“People are going to look at this and not want to come.
“The decision on whether we run will ultimately be with the owner …”
Premier trainer Tony Gollan said he accepted with a number of his runners as insurance in case the meeting moved to Doomben.
He was supposed to have six horses gallop at Eagle Farm on Tuesday, but switched the remaining four after his first pair galloped and has bypassed the weekend with his juveniles.
“I have a couple of nice two-year-olds I want to kick off. The other option was Wednesday and that’s out the gate too,” Gollan said.
“If you have to change your program because of this track, you are in trouble.”
Multiple Group 1-placed Fell Swoop will bypass the Victory Stakes and instead trial at Goulburn tomorrow before heading north for the Doomben 10,000 to be run on May 13.