Glen Colless will ride Shoot Out in the Eagle Farm Cup

Glen Colless has been the SOS man of late with quite a few stables calling on his services to either replace underperforming jockeys or to try and get the best out of their fringe horses.

It’s a trend that’s continuing this weekend as well and his performances are only likely to get better as the carnival rolls into Eagle Farm.

Doomben was starting to feel the effects of continuous capacity fields and the jockeys are pleased to move across the road.

“We had a few meetings earlier in the year and the track did get affected on a couple of occasions,” Colless said.

“It’s a lot different track (Eagle Farm) and you ride it a little different to Doomben.”

Eagle Farm is a lot bigger and wider and it probably offers a more even contest across the field.

Barriers play a bigger role at Doomben and as was evident last Saturday it can have a leaders bias.

“At Doomben horses tend to go around the 600m mark, at Eagle Farm horses that get back and can finish off really hard, you can wait until you straighten up,” he said.

His local knowledge will be well and truly tested this Saturday when he steers I Walk The Line in the Queensland Oaks and Shoot Out in the Eagle Farm Cup.

They’re both very different contests with I Walk the Line having to contend with a highly competitive  field of 17 at Group 1 level on a track that doesn’t suit her.

“She does excel on wet tracks, her run in The Roses was maybe a little bit disappointing,” Colless said.

“Maybe the few weeks between the two runs might help her.”

For Shoot Out it’s a different story with just five opposing horses challenging for the Group 2 2200m title.

He’s been disappointing all year and while he hasn’t had a lot of luck the excuses have worn thin with many punters.

The only saving grace here could be the small field over a more suitable distance, and the fact Colless takes over from Corey Brown.

” I think they were just looking for a change, Corey’s had a fair few rides on him and I think they’re just looking for a change in luck,” he said.

“He gave me a great feel, he’s a lot bigger and stronger when you get on him.

“I was quite surprised, he’s got a massive stride on him, he’s a nice horse.”