Trainer Cliff Brown has experienced no favour with barrier draws for Almairac in the past week but has decided to take a chance and travel to Adelaide.
Almairac drew a wide barrier in Sydney last Saturday, and again at Sandown on Wednesday. Now, he faces gate 12 of 13 acceptors in The Footbase Group Handicap (1994m) at Morphettville Parks this Saturday.
Brown confirmed that Almairac would make the trip across to Adelaide from his Mornington stables, as it has been more than five weeks since the gelding’s last race.
That previous start was in a Benchmark 70 race over 1800m, where Almairac finished fourth on a Heavy 9-rated track.
Brown expressed that the likelihood of a slightly firmer surface, rated a Soft 7 on Thursday, would be beneficial for the gelding.
Almairac also drops in weight from the 57.5kg he was set to carry at Sandown to 55kg on Saturday in Benchmark 78 grade, with Will Price engaged to ride.
“He’s kept drawing wide and he’s done the same on Saturday, but I’m just going to chance my arm,” Brown said.
“That would be three times in a week that he would have missed a start because of poor barriers.”
“It’s come about because he drew 10 of 12 at Randwick, drew 11 at Sandown, and the start at Randwick can be a bit tricky, and we’ve got 12 on Saturday.”
“The heavy track probably got him last time, but he had had a bit of a gap between runs, and for the pattern of the day, he ran pretty well.”
“There has been rain in Adelaide, but it’s clearing up, and I’ve got to race him somewhere, and that seems the most logical one.”
“He’s worked very well. I’m happy with how he is, but I’d love to draw a gate.”
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