Glen Boss has been booked to ride Bring Back in the 2014 Queensland Derby, but the leading hoop does not believe that the progressive gelding will be suited by the firm ground at Eagle Farm tomorrow.
Glen Boss is not particularly confident about the chances of Bring Back heading into the 2014 Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
The Eagle Farm track is currently rated a good three and, with no rain forecast overnight, that rating is expected to be maintained throughout the Stradbroke Handicap meeting tomorrow.
Bring Back produced the best performance of his career when he took out the L U Simon Builders Handicap (2000m) on a slow track at Caulfield on May 3 and Boss told Racing Ahead this morning that he feels the Sebring gelding is at his best on a softer surface than he will run on in the Queensland Derby tomorrow.
“I actually quite like this horse, but I would have liked soft ground for him,” Boss said.
“He feels like he is just a horse that is still learning his trade, as you can see from his form, he has just sort of done it lately.
“If he got on slow ground he would run well, but I think that the firm ground is probably going to sort him out.”
Bring Back stepped up to Group level for the first time in the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) at Doomben on May 24 and he battled home to finish eighth, more than six lengths behind the winner Vilanova.
Boss said that Bring Back was trapped against the fence for the majority of the Grand Prix Stakes and believes that the performance of the three-year-old was better than it looks on paper.
“In his last start he was on the inside and he didn’t get the reverse direction that well and there were a couple of points in the race where he had restricted room and he didn’t quite know what to do with himself,” Boss said.
“You can sort of forgive him that margin.”
Bring Back is currently available at the lengthy 2014 Queensland Derby odds of $51, while Pinstripe Lane ($4.80) remains a narrow favourite in betting markets for the Group 1 event from Vilanova ($5), Elusive Runner ($5) and the well-backed Rock Diva ($9).
Boss is chasing his third win in the Queensland Derby after previously winning the race with Camarena in 1998 and Lachlan River in 2005.
