Dunn cares little about trial defeat
SMART sprinter Care To Think has been well beaten in a Doomben barrier trial but trainer Matt Dunn is more than happy with his effort.
Care To Think has not raced since being unplaced in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben in June but has had a preparation in the lead-up to the Sydney spring carnival.
The gelding was ruling favourite for the $1.3 million The Kosciuszko (1200m) at Randwick on October 13 until he was ruled out with an elevated temperature.
Dunn eased off him with the Brisbane summer in mind and he had his first serious hitout yesterday.
Care To Think was second last early in the 1000m trial before coming four and five deep from the 700m. He eventually finished third behind the handy No Annamossity who led all the way.
Murwillumbah-based Dunn said the trial had been a good hitout and Care To Think would now press on to the first leg of the Queensland summer sprint series, the Group 3 George Moore Stakes, at Doomben on Saturday week.
“He did exactly what we wanted and that should have him ready for Saturday week,” Dunn said.
“We can go two weeks at a time into trying to win the Magic Millions Cup two years in a row.
“There is also the option to miss a week somewhere in there.”
Care To Think was a star of the 2017-18 Queensland summer sprint series.
He won the Magic Millions The Buffering (1350m) at Doomben on December 30 before picking up the $600,000 first prize in the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast in January.