CROOKED Blaze will have to overcome a horror barrier draw if he is to win today’s $25,000 John Carlton Cup (1200m) at Grafton and earn a start in next Wednesday’s $160,000 Listed Ramornie Handicap (1200m).
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The Tamworth-trained Crooked Blaze, a four-year-old gelding son of Ad Valorem, is prepared by Leon Davies.
Drawing barrier 17 wasn’t in Davies’ original plans for a little gelding who has won five of his 24 starts for more than $157,000 in prizemoney.
More importantly, Crooked Blaze is a winner at Grafton, successful there last year, and in three starts has won twice for Davies.
“Yeah, we got the visitor’s draw,” Davies said.
“Seventeen out of17. He will come in a couple but still start from the extreme outside. He’ll just have to go forward and see where he can fit in.”
Davies said a Ramornie start was dependent on “how he shapes up” in today’s John Carlton Cup.
“He’s thrived since he came over last week,” he said.
“Couldn’t be happier with him and he is feeling good.
“The winkers go on for the first time too to switch him on.”
Crooked Blaze is coming off a last start seventh to Elemenohpee at Rosehill two weeks go.
“It was on a heavy track but he got home well too and wasn’t beaten far (2.8lens).
Darren Jones will ride the four-year-old who won the Class 6 at Grafton last year with Blake Shinn aboard.
Grafton has been a good venue for Davies in recent years with Kurtley winning both the Guineas and South Grafton Cup as well as Crooked Blaze winning twice on the track.
If he does race well and pulls up okay Davies will consider a Ramornie start in what is a busy few days with four runners in today and then three or four in tomorrow’s meeting at Tamworth.
JOHN CARLTON CUP MARKET: 4-1 Bells Of War, 6-1 Crooked Blaze, 7-1 Specific Choice, Youwaitandsee, 10-1 Pago Rock, 12-1 Qfighter, Dixie Lad, 14-1 Slate On Edge, Not Wanted, 20-1 French Command, Polskie Prince, 25-1 Nothing Like Luca, Curley Mac, Dictatorship, 30-1 Power Receiver.
