Lucky Dubai Out To Break Doomben Hoodoo

Friday, 09 September 2011 06:15

Caloundra trainer Kim Craft is hoping a decision to give Lucky Dubai a barrier trial for the first time on her hoodoo track at Doomben recently will lead to a successful comeback on Saturday.

Craft is confident Lucky Dubai will be competitive in Saturday's Ormiston College Handicap (1200m) but would rather see the five-year-old make her return at the roomier Eagle Farm where her record is far better.

Lucky Dubai, an Eddie Wilkinson mount, has been in work for three months preparing for her first start since finishing fourth in the Amateurs Cup at Rockhampton in mid-May.

The daughter of Dubai Destination is yet to be placed in four attempts at Doomben while six of her eight career victories have been at Eagle Farm including four successive wins last spring.

"It it was at Eagle Farm I'd be a lot more confident of her winning first-up," Craft said.

"I don't know why but she hasn't had any luck at Doomben.

"She's never run a decent race there but she barrier trialled there last week for the first time.

"The trial was only on the inside grass but it gives her a bit more experience."

Craft's other concern is her wide barrier in 10 but she's not overly worried.

"She's got a bad barrier but that won't be too bad as she prefers to be on the outside of horses," she said.

Craft said owner Greg Needham had no plans to retire Lucky Dubai to stud in the near future.

"Greg won't send her to stud. He's not into breeding so she'll keep racing for a while yet," she said.

Craft plans to give Lucky Dubai two more starts in Brisbane before deciding if she'll measure up to a possible Sydney trip.

"She's running in a 1350-metre race at Doomben for fillies and mares in two weeks then in a 1600-metre race at Eagle Farm next month," she said.

"She's a lot stronger mare this preparation and if her form is up to it I might take her away."

Trainer Liam Birchley has given punters a lead by choosing to stay on home territory with Alberton Park who was also nominated for Rosehill on Saturday.

Alberton Park resumed with a close second at the Gold Coast on August 6 before going down less than two lengths when fourth to Catashee in a 1350-metre Class 6 at Doomben two weeks later.

Alberton Park competed well at black-type level during the winter with her best performance in that company when runner-up to Jasminka in the Listed Bright Shadow Quality (1200m) at Doomben in April.

The daughter of Thorn Park lived up to her winter performances when winning a Class 6 at Doomben on May 28 but was hampered by a wide barrier when ninth in the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich in mid-June.