Weight right for Newcastle sprinter in the Bribie Handicap

Wet weather thwarted Jason Deamer’s plans to run Hard To Say in last weekend’s Starlight Stake at Rosehill, but he might have found an even more suitable target in a Listed sprint at Eagle Farm.

Hard To Say has been a regular visitor to Queensland throughout his career, competing there 10 times for three wins and two placings.

Among those is a 2023 victory over the course and distance of Saturday’s Bribie Handicap (1000m), for which Hard To Say is an early $5.50 favourite with online betting sites.

“He has been up there quite a few times now, so he knows the routine,” Deamer said.

“He stays at Kris Lees’ stables at the Gold Coast and I’m pretty sure they put him in the same box every time, so they look after him well.

“The 1000 to 1100 are probably his ideal distances. He can run 1200, but he just struggles that last little bit. Over 1000 metres, it’s pretty easy to freshen them up. He’s had a very easy week and he’s ready to go.”

Hard To Say has been kept fresh since finishing a close fourth in the Keith Noud Quality (1200m) at Doomben last month.

He lumped 60kg that day from an awkward gate and with the presence of warhorse Rothfire in Saturday’s sprint, drops to 56.5kg from an ideal draw in barrier five.

Deamer says the Magic Millions-bound gelding doesn’t have to improve much to get back into the winner’s stall.

“He had a bit of an awkward draw and the big weight last start, but he fought on very well,” he said.

“He just had to do a little bit of work to get across and he only got beaten three-quarters of a length, so it was a good effort.

“He gets a much lighter weight on Saturday with Rothfire in it, back to the shorter trip, good barrier. Everything looks good for him.”

Stablemate and Grafton Guineas winner Rapt is likely to join Hard To Say on the float north to take her place in the Listed Just Now Quality (1300m).

Also an acceptor in Sydney, Rapt’s strong fresh record and the opportunity to compete for black-type has all but convinced Deamer to roll the dice at Eagle Farm.

“She is about 30-1 in Sydney and about $12 in Brisbane. It gives her a chance, if she can’t win, to at least to run a place in Listed grade which will help her later on in life,” he said.

“She is always very full of herself (first-up) and hopefully with the light weight she can run home over the top of them.”