Neasham stable seeks a confidence booster from Controlocracy

By Glenn Davis

The Annabel Neasham stable is hopeful a big drop in grade will see a return to form from promising filly Controlocracy at Ipswich on Wednesday.

Controlocracy struggled at stakes level when resuming with a well beaten 11th to stable-mate Lady Laguna as a $150 outsider in the Listed Mick Dittman Plate at Doomben on August 22.

Neasham, who won her third straight Hollindale Stakes with Zaaki at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday, has dropped the three-year-old back to the city mid-weeks in the Benchmark 65 Handicap over 1100 metres.

The daughter Of More Than Ready has already ticked off an important win for her future pedigree page when she claimed her first metropolitan race over 1100 metres at Ipswich on January 18.

Neasham’s Brisbane stable manager Todd Pollard believes Controlocracy is a future stakes winner and is looking to boost the filly’s confidence when she drops in grade.

“She looks well placed in a Benchmark 65 but it’s a shame about her draw (barrier 11),” Pollard said.

“But, she’ll come in a few places if the emergencies don’t run so she should be able to jump away well and be on the speed.

“She’s in this race to get her confidence back and we still hope she can measure up to a stakes race later on.”

Pollard said winning a metropolitan race was the main objective for her owners ahead of a career in the breeding barn.

“She’s won a metropolitan race which is good for her future pedigree page,” Pollard said.

“We had a throw at the stumps in the Mick Dittman and she wasn’t disgraced.

“There was a gap for her to go through but she couldn’t quite get there.”

Controlocracy has started 13 times for three wins and two seconds and was most impressive winning her first metropolitan race over 1100 metres at Ipswich on January 18.

Heavyweight rider Damien Thornton will partner Controlocracy for the first time, replacing Samantha Collett.

Meanwhile, the Neasham stable will make a late call whether Better Explain will run in the Benchmark 65 Handicap over 1680 metres after drawing badly in gate 11.

Jag Guthmann-Chester will ride Better Explain if the gelding starts. 

“We will have to wait and see if there are any scratchings before we decide if he starts,” Pollard said.

Better Explain has started six times for three wins on the provincial circuits at Kilcoy, Lismore and Warwick.

The son of Better Than Ready stepped up to 1600 metres for the first time last start when a game third to Atlantic Eagle in a Class 3 event at the Sunshine Coast on April 16.