Blake Shinn to navigate wide draw on Bittercreek
The wide barrier problem facing the Leon and Troy Corstens-trainer Bittercreek at Eagle Farm will all be left to leading jockey Blake Shinn.
While not faced with the extreme outside draw like he is on Warmonger in the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m), Shinn is faced with the daunting prospect on jumping from a wide gate in the Group 2 Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) on Saturday.
Bittercreek will come into barrier 14 if the five emergencies to not gain a start.
Troy Corstens said he need not worry too much about the draw and will leave that all to Shinn.
“That’s probably a Blake Shinn worry,” Corstens said.
“He’s such a professional. He’ll do his homework.
“It will be interesting to see what they do with Broadsiding (barrier 21, gate 17 if emergencies are scratched), whether he goes forward, you would assume that he would, or look for a sit something.
“So, I think we’ll leave it all up to Blake.”
Bittercreek announced himself a serious competitor after landing the Group 2 Spirit Of Boom Classic (1200m) at Doomben on May 18.
That was the colt’s first start in nearly two months and Bittercreek lived up to the lofty expectations the stable had placed on the colt.
“We’ve always had a massive opinion of him,” Corstens said.
“I didn’t expect him to win first-up and I thought he was really, really solid and did a good job.
“I think he will get better at the 1400 (metres) and had we drawn a gate, I would have been a lot more confident than I am.
“We’re just going to need some luck.”
Corstens said he will be interested in how the Eagle Farm track races on Saturday, although he will not be put off by soft ground.
Eagle Farm has been struck by heavy dews of a morning and was rated in the soft range on Thursday, while rain is forecast on race day.
“He got through the soft last start, so I don’t think it’s too much of an issue,” Corstens said.
“I think he is better on top of the track, but there’s not too much we can do about the weather.”
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