He’s tough enough to make the grade
TRAINER Matt Dunn’s logic for giving a great chance to Care To Think in today’s The Buffering at Doomben is that the big class rise is probably only equivalent to the torrid run he endured in his blistering first-up win.
Care To Think has been well backed to win The Buffering (1350m) despite being poorly placed compared with the likes of Most Important and Monsieur Gustave under the set weights and penalties conditions.
“It’s fair to say he’s stepping up four to five lengths in grade but I would suggest he looks like getting a four to five lengths better run in transit,” Dunn said.
“You don’t see too many win like he did first-up after sitting out where he did in the run.”
The Murwillumbah-based Dunn is hoping to qualify Care To Think for the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 13.
It’s a race he ran the closest of seconds with Perfect Dare this year.
“I think he’s a better horse than Perfect Dare,” he said.
“Put it this way, if I put them together in a gallop, this one would beat Perfect Dare.
“He’s got a bit more brilliance. Last preparation he was really fragile but now he’s got the toughness to go with his talent.”
Dunn is yet to decide whether Perfect Dare will run in the Cup on Magic Millions day or the newly named Magic Millions Snippets (1200m).
Dunn’s best hope on paper today is Pegapus, who risks being balloted out being only third emergency.
“If she doesn’t get a run, I’ve got her in at home (Murwillumbah) on Tuesday, where she’s got 66.5kg,” he said.
“That will qualify her for the Country Cup on Millions day. If she runs today, I’d like to try to get into the Magic Millions Fillies and Mares.”