By Glenn Davis
Eagle Farm trainer Barry Lockwood will be hoping to return from a rare visit to Gatton on Tuesday with a perfect strike rate.
Lockwood will start Isabella’s Spring in the TAB Maiden Handicap over 1600m and will make a late call whether Boreas tackles the Benchmark 55 Handicap over 1400m.
Both are favourites in early TAB markets with Isabella’s Spring at $1.60 after drawing barrier one while Boreas is a $1.40 favourite despite drawing wide in barrier 10.
“I don’t often go to Gatton unless I think my horses have good chances,” Lockwood said.
“Both have been racing well and will be very competitive but I’m going to wait and see with Boreas from his alley.
“She’s drawn 10 and will be ridden by Olivia Webb who is having her first race ride.
“Olivia rides well but she’ll obviously have a few butterflies so I would prefer to see Boreas come in a few places at scratching time on Tuesday.”
Webb, 20, was originally indentured to Paul Butterworth who also is based at Eagle Farm and is currently on loan to Lockwood ahead of a full-time transfer.
Lockwood also wants to see the current soft track rating at Gatton remain to boost Isabelle’s Spring’s hopes of a breakthrough win.
Isabella’s Spring has started eight times for five placings including a second over 1350 metres at Ipswich on February 3 before a last start fourth to Hot News in a 1400m maiden at the Gold Coast on February 24.
She is a full sister to the Lockwood-trained Erringhi Spring, who has won five times in 25 starts.