By Glenn Davis
Talented sprinter Amanaat’s return to race at Doomben on Saturday will be closely monitored by trainer Ben Currie ahead of a possible Melbourne spring campaign.
Amanaat, who resumes in the Open Handicap (1200m), was being aimed at the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap during the winter carnival before plans were aborted after he fractured his jaw in the barriers for the Listed Ascot Handicap at Doomben in April.
Currie set his sights on the Stradbroke following Amanaat’s brilliant win in the Listed Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba in April.
Thankfully, the fractured jaw never required surgery and the former Melbourne sprinter spent his time recuperating in Currie’s stables.
“Luckily he didn’t need surgery but he had to be kept in the stables because he couldn’t go out to the paddock,” Currie said.
“He’s done a lot of work on the water walker and a lot of swimming and he’s had two jump outs so he’s fairly forward.
“I was getting him ready for the Stradbroke before the injury even though it would have been a step up in class.
“The injury has healed well so there’s the option of taking him to Melbourne for the spring if he comes back well.
“But I want to get this race out of the way first to see how’s he going.”
Meanwhile stablemate Cantbuybetter will appreciate a return to firmer footing in the Listed Tatt’s Mile.
Currie sent Cantbuybetter to central Queensland for his last start but the six-year-old struck a heavy track and could only manage fourth to Mamselle Corday in the Rockhampton cup (1600m).
“It’s no often they get heavy tracks in Rocky and it’s unfortunate we had to strike one this year,” Currie said.
“He didn’t handle the heavy track at all and he’ll got a lot better tomorrow.
“He drops a lot of weight for the Tatt’s Mile and he’s recovered well from the trip up and back.”
Cantbuybetter has won two Stakes races at Doomben but will only carry 55kgs, one kilogram above the minimum.
From his past 13 starts, Cantbuybetter has raced in eight Listed races winning the Listed Members’ Handicap (1600m) in May last year and Listed Brisbane Handicap (1600m) in December.
“He comes in well at the weights and I suppose he’s only got 55 because of Chris Waller’s runner, Religify.”
Currie rates Religify as the hardest to beat despite the former Sydney sprinter’s lack of recent racing.
Religify has started only once this campaign, finishing with the tailenders in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes (1200m) at Ipswich on June 16.
Racing Queensland webnews July 19