Morning
Captain starts down the long road to the Triple Crown series this summer when
the classy sprinter makes his comeback at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The four-year-old resumes in the FDC
Construction and Fitout Handicap (1200m), his first start since failing behind Pear
Tart in the G2 Queensland Guineas (1400m) at Eagle Farm in June.
The son of
Danbird has had the benefit of a solid barrier trial on his home track at the
Gold Coast earlier this month.
Trainer
Kelly Doughty had planned an earlier comeback for Morning Captain but was
forced to scratch him after he draw widely at Doomben a fortnight ago.
Doughty is
really happy with the progress Morning Captain has made this campaign and
expects a strong first-up showing.
"He's
been in work around 12 weeks so he's forward enough for this race," Doughty
said.
"He's
had the benefit of a barrier trial and was supposed to run a fortnight ago but we
decided to scratch after he drew wide.
"He was ready to resume then but I just
didn't want to see him have a gut buster in his first run back."
Doughty is
not thinking about an interstate campaign with Morning Captain who has won four
of his 11 starts.
"There's a race here every fortnight for him but ultimately we're
looking at the Triple Crown during the summer," Doughty said.
"I'd
like to think he'd get to 1600 metres so all three legs are a
possibility."
Doughty is confident Morning Captain can be
highly competitive but is still wary of a tricky barrier six.
"There
looks to be a fair amount of speed in this race so we've got to be careful not
to get caught three wide," she said.
Doughty believes
evergreen sprinter The Sixties poses the biggest threat to Morning Captain taking
his prizemoney past $200,000.
The Tracy
Green-trained The Sixties has been a model of consistency with two wins and
three placings from his past five starts.
"The
Sixties has been racing very well and looks our main danger," Doughty
said.
"He won
well at Doomben last month and he fought on strongly last start when
he finished third after attempting to lead all the way."
The Sixties
has paid the penalty for his recent good form and has 58 kilograms but in-form
apprentice Kirk Matheson's claim reduces
the seven-year-old's weight to 55kgs.
Racing
Queensland webnews September 28
Photo: Trackside Photography
