Thornton to help overcome barrier
Trainer Matt Dunn is hoping apprentice Boris Thornton’s three-kilogram claim to can help overcome Quatronic’s run of bad luck with barriers when he runs at the Gold Coast.
Thornton’s claim will reduce Quatronic’s weight to a luxury 55.5kg but he will still have to overcome barrier 11 to win the Open Handicap (1200m).
Quatronic drew barriers 11, 13, 12 and 14 before coming up with gate four at Rosehill at his most recent start on December 2.
Unfortunately, that day the track was heavy and inside barriers were of little use.
“It was hardly a surprise when I heard he drew barrier 11 on Saturday. He just can’t get a good barrier on a good track,” Dunn said.
“But wide barriers from the 1200 metres at the Gold Coast seem to be a bit more forgiving. At least Boris’ claim will give him a chance.”
Dunn hasn’t been afraid to travel with Quatronic who won the Listed Ortensia Stakes at Scone in May and has also campaigned in Melbourne and Sydney.
“It is just a matter of finding the right races for him,” Dunn said.
He is tossing up whether to run last-start Gold Coast winner Perfect Dare from a wide barrier on Saturday in the Class Six Plate.
“He was supposed to trial at Murwillumbah on Tuesday but they were washed out. It was why I accepted because I wanted to give him a hit-out before the Magic Millions,” Dunn said.
“But he also needs a dry track so we will see with him.”
Meanwhile, Dunn is hoping for an upset with filly Dram of Delago in the Two-Year-Old Handicap (1100m).
“She needs to win to get into the Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic. But it is a very tough race with some promising horses,” Dunn said.
“But she keeps improving so she is some hope.”
Dunn is having a good summer and won feature races with Care To Think (Buffering Quality) and Don’t Babylon (Nudgee Quality) at Doomben last Saturday.
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