Spurcraft out to answer 1200m question at Eagle Farm

Darling Downs flyer Spurcraft is the fastest horse in Queensland but can he extended that brilliance to 1200m at Eagle Farm?

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He’s the fastest horse in Queensland and on Saturday at Eagle Farm we find out whether Darling Downs flyer Spurcraft can extend that brilliance to 1200m.

It’s a question that is dividing opinion.

Early punters have backed him from $2.90 to $2.70 with Ladbrokes, who are more than happy to accommodate the wagers, as their bookmaking arm have made him their lay of the day.

“Punters have warmed to the Spurcraft story and he has developed into a very popular horse, but we’ve got serious concerns over his ability to run out a strong 1200 metres, especially in a race of this quality,” Ladbrokes’ Tom Hackett said. “He could very well prove up to it, but we are happy to let punters on to find out.”

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Spurcraft has garnered a good following with punters. Picture: AAP

Trainer Charlotte White has trained Spurcraft to win nine of his 14 starts, with Les “Bubba” Tilley aboard in every one of those wins. He has had just one go at 1200m – the only day Tilley didn’t ride him – and finished third at the Gold Coast under Brad Stewart.

There’s little doubt he’s a superior horse now and a tieback operation to correct his breathing is the reason his supporters believe the 1200m is now within his grasp.

Racecallers David Fowler and Josh Fleming are both on team Spurcraft, although Fowler concedes he doesn’t consider Spurcraft a betting proposition.

“The two times he’s won at 1100m he’s faded late, but to compensate, this breathing tieback operation makes me think he can (run it) now,” Fowler said.

“It’s quite perplexing and really holds the key to the race. He might come out and win by three lengths. He won’t run badly, but he might get overhauled.

“If you put a gun to my head, I would say he probably can. I’ll be selecting him but I wouldn’t be rushing in to back him at those odds either.”

Fleming is more bullish.

“I have a bit of bias towards him, because I’m great mates with Bubba, but you could tell he was a different horse the other day because he just travelled so well,” Fleming said.

Bubba Tilley and trainer Charlotte White are confident Spurcraft will run a strong 1200m at Eagle Farm. Picture: Natasha Wood, Trackside Photography

“He conserved a bit of energy and he didn’t go a million miles an hour. If he can do that here, I think he wins again.”

Best Bets Brisbane form analyst Chris Nelson has tipped away from the flying chestnut, believing today’s race will take him right out of his comfort zone.

“I’m going to take him on because I thought he got a soft lead last time. He won easily, but he was entitled to given the run,” Nelson said.

“He’s got that longer straight, he’s got that extra 150m and I think he could be vulnerable late.”

Top local trainer and former champion jockey Chris Munce says Spurcraft will run 1200m out, provided he handles the new Eagle Farm surface, which he has not raced on yet.

“The way he went the other day, he will definitely run it,” Munce said. “Eagle Farm is the only question mark. This Eagle Farm is a very tricky track. Some horses just don’t like it.”

Multiple premiership-winning trainer Rob Heathcote says the key is Tilley being able to get Spurcraft into a nice rhythm early in the race.

“If he can do that without having to drive him, I think he will see it out,” he said.

Spurcraft has been well backed to win again at Eagle Farm. Picture: AAP

Meteoric rise for Huxtable

Chris Munce has backed his apprentice Justin Huxtable to do the job again on Smart Meteor in Saturday’s Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes, as the pair try to combine for a maiden feature success together.

Huxtable, who joined Munce in September, is seeking his first Group success, with his biggest win being last year’s Listed Cinderella Stakes in Adelaide on Krone.

Huxtable has quickly built an affinity with Smart Meteor and turned in a dashing ride to land him a winner over 2000m at Doomben last start.

“He’s had two rides on him for two wins and he’s a good boy. He rides very well,” Munce said. “I don’t know why, but he hasn’t been given the opportunities from other trainers I thought he would have. He rides as good as any jockey up here in Queensland.

“For a young kid, he thinks like a senior rider.”

While Huxtable’s ride earned plaudits last time, so too did Munce’s training feat of having the gelding go from 1300m to 2000m in one swoop.

“I know he’s by Smart Missile and they aren’t really a staying breed, but I went to the dam a bit and I backed his pedigree. There’s a lot of good staying fillies in the family,” Munce said.

Apprentice Justin Huxtable will chase a stakes win on Smart Meteor in the Grand Prix Stakes. Picture: AAP

“He had always shown me enough ability. He had no luck in most of his lead-up runs (before his maiden win in Toowoomba), because he’s a backmarker and he always seemed to be running into dead ends.

“I saw these two (staying) races in the program and I was sort of 50-50, but once I saw the way he pulled up after his Toowoomba run, I thought we would roll the dice.

“If he went to Doomben and won I thought we would go to the Grand Prix, but if he happened to get beaten we could have run in the 1600m three-year-old race (today).

“The way he won last time, I think the 2200m will suit him good.”

Smart Meteor takes on several of the rivals he beat last time at Doomben, in addition to fancied Sydneysiders Chains Of Honour and Mission Phoenix.

Munce isn’t running scared of that pair today though, believing there’s still a lot of upside with Smart Meteor.

“He loved it (the staying trip). He’s such a laid-back horse. He’s very casual, goes about his business, but what he has in his favour is a good turn of foot,” he said.