Enquare has wet argument for optimism

JASON McLachlan’s frustration at Enquare’s wide draw in Saturday’s Gold Coast Guineas may be offset by a wet track barrier anomaly at the venue.

History shows Enquare’s wide draw is not insurmountable. Picture: Peter Wallis

JASON McLachlan’s frustration at Enquare’s wide draw wide in Saturday’s Gold Coast Guineas may be offset by a wet track barrier anomaly at the venue.

Enquare emerged as one of Queensland's best three-year-olds over the summer and showed she was on target for a fruitful winter when strolling home by 5.5 lengths in a recent Sunshine Coast barrier trial.

“She won hard-held and seems to have come up pretty well,’’ McLachlan said. “I thought she was hard to beat the way she’s going, but gee, she faces a task now.’’

But McLachlan was buoyed to learn of figures produced by Daniel O’Sullivan, of Smartform Racing, which indicate the wide marble is not insurmountable.

On tracks rated slow and heavy at the Coast (and using horses only up to $10 in the market), double digit draws have an outstanding 17.7 per cent strike rate, which is superior to gates 1-4 (17 per cent) and 5-9 (15.3 per cent).

“In decent sized fields of 12 or more, outside barriers have a notably better record,’’ O’Sullivan said.

“Punters should definitely not be put off by wide barriers, especially if it’s on go-forward horses.’’

Enquare is likely to continue firming in the market, with wet track queries over all of her main betting rivals, as opposed to her unblemished record in two attempts.

McLachlan said this race and the Fred Best Classic in a fortnight would determine whether Enquare was worthy of a start in the Stradbroke.

“I don’t kid myself with my horses, they need to tell me they are up to it,’’ he said.

“She will have to perform well in both of these races to even think about the Stradbroke.’’

Stable favourite Phelan Ready is back in work and about a month away from racing.

■ EARLY favourite Leebaz is an unlikely runner in the Doomben Cup. Leebaz runs at odds-on in today’s Hawkesbury Gold Cup but co-trainer John Hawkes said it was likely to be his final start this campaign.

“I don't think we will press on to Scone or Brisbane,’’ Hawkes said.