Almairac's Adelaide venture after frustrating draws
Despite a string of unfavourable barrier draws in the past week, trainer Cliff Brown is taking a calculated risk by sending Almairac to Adelaide.
Almairac has faced wide gates at recent starts, including last Saturday in Sydney and Wednesday at Sandown. On Saturday, the gelding will again jump from a challenging position, drawing barrier 12 in the 13-horse field for The Footbase Group Handicap (1994m) at Morphettville Parks.
Brown explained that Almairac is heading to Adelaide from his Mornington base, noting it has been more than five weeks since the gelding last raced.
His most recent outing was a fourth-place finish in a Benchmark 70 event over 1800m on a heavy 9 track.
The trainer believes a potentially firmer track surface, rated a Soft 7 on Thursday, will be advantageous for the gelding.
Almairac also benefits from a weight reduction, dropping to 55kg for Saturday's Benchmark 78 race from the 57.5kg he was set to carry at Sandown. Will Price will be in the saddle.
"He's kept drawing wide and he's done the same on Saturday, but I'm just going to chance my arm," Brown commented.
"That would be three times in a week that he would have missed a start because of poor barriers."
"It's come about because he drew 10 of 12 at Randwick, drew 11 at Sandown, and the start at Randwick can be a bit tricky, and we've got 12 on Saturday."
"The heavy track probably got him last time, but he had had a bit of a gap between runs, and for the pattern of the day, he ran pretty well."
"There has been rain in Adelaide, but it's clearing up, and I've got to race him somewhere, and that seems the most logical one."
"He's worked very well. I'm happy with how he is, but I'd love to draw a gate."
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