Bougoure hopes to end 20-year Saturday drought

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Dan Bougoure struggles to remember his last Saturday city double but he’s got his fingers crossed the drought will end at Doomben on Saturday.

Bougoure has split his Doomben firepower by avoiding a clash between his quality mare Ginger Rock and dual acceptor Azzareach in the Class 3 Plate over 1050 metres.

Azzareach will instead run in the male division of the QTIS Three-Year-Old, which will decide if the colt heads to the $500,000 QTIS Jewel (1200m) at the Gold Coast next month.

“Geez, it’s hard to remember when I last trained a Saturday double in town and I would think I would be about 20 years ago,” Bougoure.

“I was in Sydney with Falvelon for the TJ Smith in 2001 and I recall training a city double in Brisbane that day.”

Falvelon was one of the nation’s top sprinters and later went on to claim back-to-back Doomben 10,000s in 2002-03.

Ginger Rock is resuming after winning two of her last three starts but hasn’t raced since finishing third to the Scott Morrisey-trained Love Struck at Eagle Farm in August last year.

Azzareach has won two of his four starts including a dominant victory in a Class 1 at the Sunshine Coast on January 22.

Bougoure gives both runners great chances.

“I’ve always liked Ginger Rock and she’s come back a lot bigger and stronger this campaign,” Bougoure said.

“She’s fully matured now and I think you’ll see the best from her this campaign and the next.

“If she runs well there’s a nice fillies and mares’ race she might head to on Jewel day at the Gold Coast then I’ll look for a suitable Listed race during the winter carnival.

“At this stage I’m not sure whether to target the early winter races or wait until late in the carnival.”

Ginger Rock was bred by Toowoomba trainer Rex Lipp and was bought for $38,000 by Bougoure at the Magic Millions sales.

Bougoure believes Azzareach can follow up his last start win at the Sunshine Coast after drawing the rails.

“He’s a natural speed horse but he can take a sit if they go crazy up front,” he said.

“He did a lot of things wrong when he won at Caloundra and shied at the big screen.

“If he wins or runs well, he’ll head to the QTIS Jewel.”