Wide barrier frustrates Beaton ahead of Ipswich handicap
Renita Beaton from the Gold Coast views Wednesday's Voodoo Ranger Handicap at Ipswich as the right third-up target for Smart As Smart, which explains her dismay at the barrier allocation.
In the benchmark 70 race over 1710m, the Smart Missile gelding drew the outside post among 12 runners including an emergency.
The trainer hasn't ruled out starting the six-year-old, a dual winner at the track, as long as several horses scratch.
"We've had to run him from terrible draws in the past and he's just been one of the most unlucky horses and I just don't want to do that to his owners again," Beaton said.
"Look, we might draw bad again next time and you have to go around, but if I can protect him for one more run I will.
"We'll wait until tomorrow to see if there are any scratchings and if there is we may run him."
Should the gelding take part, Jace McMurray is set to partner him with a 2kg claim reducing the weight to 59kg.
He began the spell with success in a Class 5 event at 1350m on Doomben on April 1, then was narrowly beaten into second over 1640m in the same grade a fortnight on.
Beaton, who took over Smart As Smart from Ron Quinton just over two years ago, notes this as his most reliable early form, expecting a solid performance third-up wherever it occurs.
"He's in really good order, he's always been such a consistent horse for me," Beaton said.
"Every time I take him to the races he seems to show up and he's very honest.
"He's in very good order, he's racing very well and consistently and there's no reason why he won't go and do that again."
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