Snitch gets chance from inside barrier

Trainer Tony Gollan believes an inside draw will help Snitch get back to form at Eagle Farm.

Tony Gollan is the first to admit Snitch has had a disappointing campaign with one placing from five starts.

But Brisbane’s leading trainer believes Snitch can turn his form around in Saturday’s Family Raceday Open Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm.

The new look Eagle Farm track is developing a reputation of barrier positions being important regarding a horse’s racing pattern rather than a blanket theory that inside is best.

From many starts the success rate of inside barriers versus outside barriers is about 50-50.

Gollan said in Snitch’s case, an inside barrier seemed to be linked to his performance.

“The last time he drew barrier one he was fourth in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes,” Gollan said.

Snitch has drawn barrier one on Saturday and Gollan feels that will be a major boost for the gelding.

“To put it plainly his campaign has been frustrating mainly due to the poor barriers he has drawn,” Gollan said.

“We have had to ride him upside down a few times and in a couple of others he has got caught in the wrong part of the track.

“His best run this time was when he drew barrier three when third at Doomben. But even then he didn’t have much luck.

“From barrier one we will be able to ride him handier and that should make the difference.”

Weights for the Open Handicap were raised 2.5kg when original topweight Hallelujah Boy was not an acceptor and Snitch went from an original handicap of 54.5kg to 57kg.

“Baylee (Nothdurft) will claim 1.5kg so we are better off than a few others who went up in the weights,” Gollan said.

Nothdurft has ridden Snitch once, last May, but Gollan feels he will suit the gelding.

“Baylee is leading the senior riders premiership and if he keeps at it he will go a long way in the sport,” Gollan said.

Gollan has his seventh Brisbane premiership firmly in his grasp and will have another strong hand at Eagle Farm with nine acceptances.

Among his runners is promising three-year-old Ingear who he has dropped back from open three-year-olds to the Class Three Plate (1200m).

“The distance and weights suit and she deserves a win,” Gollan said.

“She has been placed behind some handy young horses of late and this looks a bit easier.”

Ingear has registered two recent placings over 1350 and 1400m in races won by the talented Baroda.