Single could make the final field for the Group 1 Queensland Derby

Craig Carmody doesn’t get too many chances at Group 1 level but he’s on the verge of sneaking his way into the Queensland Derby in two weeks time.

His horse Single was sitting 33rd on the order of entry but after a big group of withdrawals it looks as if he’s around 14th on the list and safely into the field.

He’s been running in the lower grades down in Sydney recently and it’s been tough to get an accurate read on his form.

Sydney has copped a battering of rain for months now and slow and heavy tracks seem to be the norm rather than the exception.

It’s a surface Single doesn’t handle all too well and as a result his recent stats are poor.

Despite this Carmody is content with the effort that he’s seen.

“I’m happy with the way that he’s come through last week,” he said.

“It wasn’t all that ideal for him on the heavy nine, I think there were excuses for a lot of horses, mine included.”

The key to a start in Brisbane is the weather and with clear skies around the city all week it’s promising that we could see the best of Single at Eagle Farm.

“I’m encouraged by the long term forecast and from the reports I’ve seen it looks pretty promising,” he said.

Carmody was pretty much forced to run his horse at Rosehill on the weekend as he needed the trip and there was virtually no other event available.

“It wasn’t ideal backing him up on the heavy nine but I was running out of options,” he said.

“The horse seems to have come through without any problems so I’m happy to press on.”

Single isn’t the most conventional of horses to ride and Carmody is wary of putting on a big name jockey who hasn’t had any experience with him.

As a result he’s going to stick with Dale Spriggs who has enjoyed previous success with Single.

“He’s a little bit quirky the horse and he’s still learning,” he said.