Jockey Luke Currie wants to take luck out of the equation for short-priced favourite Craig on Saturday in the Rod Johnson Handicap (1620m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Craig, a moral beaten last start at headquarters, was slow into stride and then held up inside other runners as the leader Rise At Dawn skipped clear to pinch the race.
Currie was able shoulder into the clear inside the last 250m and Craig made up six lengths in a hurry, only to miss by a nose on the post.
“He just needs a bit of room this time,” Currie said.
FIELDS AND FORM FLEMINGTON SATURDAY
“Hopefully he can jump away a little bit better, I thought if he could’ve jumped away last time he might’ve held and prominent spot and he would have won, I think, by panels.
“I actually thought he won on the day, it was disappointing when we came back to scale … it was a huge run.”
The upshot, albeit gut churning, was the effort proved three-year-old Craig, trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, has a bright future.
Craig, who only raced once in England, placed third on a heavy track last year, won his first Australian start brilliantly at Bendigo, charging away late for a 4.5 length demolition.
The big finish at Flemington last start franked the form line.
“I’ve done all the work on him, all the jumpouts since he’s been here, and I rode him to his first win, he’s a nice horse and looks like he’s going to progress well,” Currie said.
“Speaking to Trent before it we obviously expected him to be very hard to beat but we were hoping to see a good run from him.
“You don’t know, coming off a moderate maiden at Bendigo to then go to Flemington on a Saturday, where he lines up but I think we’ve got a good idea where he lines up.”
Craig is a dominant $1.60 favourite TAB to turn the tables on Rise At Dawn ($5.50), with Red Galaxy ($8.50) and Some People Callme ($10) next best in the market.
Craig has a high ceiling, currently rated 67, to build an Australian profile.
Any wins Craig, effectively six months behind on the European time, gets now would only streamline decisions in the spring, be it this year or next, for the progressive galloper.
“He’s still not a big strong horse, he’s still going to furnish a bit,” Currie said.
“They’re looking towards Caulfield Cups (in time), that’s a long way off yet, he’s the sort of horse that could be one to keep building that way but a lot of water to go under the bridge.
“He’s a really nice horse going forward, hopefully we win on Saturday so I keep the ride.”
Originally published as Jockey Luke Currie eyes Flemington redemption on short-priced favourite Craig