Trainer Desleigh Forster believes the statistics on Chapter and Verse’s form at Doomben are misleading as the gelding heads to the Group Three George Moore Stakes.
Chapter and Verse has had six starts at Doomben and never finished worse than fifth but he is yet to win at the track.
The winner of the $1 million Magic Millions QTIS race in January, Chapter and Verse is again heading to the Gold Coast carnival this season.
At his first run back from a spell he flashed home to finish fourth behind Outback Barbie in the Keith Noud Quality at Doomben three weeks ago.
Forster believes Chapter and Verse he can break the drought in Saturday’s 1200m-feature.
“He won a maiden at Beaudesert and we threw him in the deep end at Doomben in a three-year-old Plate in June last year,” she said.
“He finished second to The Bostonian who went on to win in Listed company after that.
“Of course The Bostonian came back last winter and won two Group One races.
“Chapter and Verse has also finished second at Doomben to Looks Like Elvis who has raced well in the south, and fourth to Tyzone in the Group Three BRC Sprint.”
Forster said the way races were generally run at Doomben were against Chapter and Verse’s style.
“Horses can come from back in the field and win. Just look at Miss Fabulass in the Spirit of Boom Classic last Saturday,” Forster said.
“But the good horses are running under 1.09 for 1200 metres and the winners are generally on the pace for the race.
“The key to beating them is getting into a position where you can get clear in time.”
Forster said the fact Chapter and Verse had drawn barrier two on Saturday was a plus.
“There looks to be a stack of early pace on Saturday and when they are stopping we should be strong,” she said.
Forster said with only 54kg on Saturday Chapter and Verse got his chance to break his Doomben duck.
A win on Saturday would lift Chapter and Verse’s prize money to $950,000 and in sight of giving Forster her first $1 million earner.
“My old warrior Adebesi finished a few dollars short of a million. A few of his owners are also in Chapter and Verse so it would be nice for us all,” she said.
Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au