Cantbuybetter likely to stay home

Talented gelding Cantbuybetter will need to produce an exceptional run at Doomben to warrant at trip to Western Australia for the Group One Railway Stakes.

Cantbuybetter was an eye-catching first-up second over 1200m in fast time last Saturday week and will step up to a more suitable 1350m in an Open Handicap at Doomben on Saturday.

He is a $50 chance in most markets for the $1 million Group One Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on November 25 but will shorten if Currie makes the commitment to travel.

But Currie is inclined to stay in Brisbane for the summer and chase some of the stakes races around 1600m.

“The Bernborough Handicap is worth $300,000 this year. I am told it is the richest Listed race in Australia,” Currie said.

“It is a bit hard to pass up that type of money in your own back yard. And there is a bonus on the race for runners in the Villiers in Sydney which is a bit closer than Perth.”

“The Villiers-Bernborough double is one way to go and the Brisbane Handicap at Doomben is over 1600 metres and worth a bit of money, so we have options.”

Currie said he had not totally given up on a trip to the west with Cantbuybetter.

“If he does something exceptional on Saturday you would have to consider going. It would have to be a run right out of the bag,” he said.

“It looks like being one of the strongest Railways in along time. But I have always thought he is potentially the best horse I have trained.”

Currie has another strong team at the Doomben meeting and hopes to improve on his current fourth place in the Brisbane premiership.

“With A Promise is in a suitable race and I am looking forward to Amanaat going around in a Class Six. I have a couple of other runners so I am hoping for a good day,” Currie said.

He has had another great start to the season after being the leading Queensland trainer last season with 103 winners.

Currie is again leading the state title with 47 winners.