Bad barrier might be an omen for At Witz End

By Glenn Davis

Lismore trainer Daniel Bowen admits to being frustrated with At Witz End drawing bad gates but he believes it could be an omen for the Glasshouse Handicap at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

At Witz End winds up his Queensland Racing Carnival campaign in the 1400-metre Listed feature in which he has drawn barrier 13 in the 15-horse field.

The veteran sprinter has started six times in Queensland during the winter for three wins and two seconds with his only unplaced run in the Group 2 Moreton Cup at Eagle Farm on June 8.

The rising nine-year-old claimed two winter Stakes races in the Listed ATC Cup (formerly Prime Minister’s Cup) at the Sunshine Coast in May and Listed Eye Liner at Ipswich last month.

“He never draws a gate for some reason and it’s become a bit frustrating,” Bowen said.

“But we’re not complaining as he had wide gates when he won the ATC Cup and Eye Liner last start.

“He’s got a wide draw again in the Glasshouse but on a heavy track it might work in our favour as he’ll be able to come down on the crown of the track.

“He’s won on a heavy before and a heavy track will eliminate a few of them.”

Regular rider Samantha Collett will be legged up again on At Witz End after missing the winning Eye Liner ride following an earlier fall on Ipswich Cup day.

“Cejay Graham did everything right to win the Eye Liner on him but it wasn’t Sam’s fault that she had a fall and missed the ride,” Bowen said.

“Sam doesn’t deserve to lose the ride just because she had a fall.”

Bowen is unsure if At Witz End will continue his current campaign for one more start in the Listed Ramornie Handicap at Grafton on July 17.

“I want to get past the Glasshouse before deciding if he goes to the Ramornie as The Kosciusko is still his aim,” he said.

“Hopefully he’s been in such good form he’ll attract the interest to get into the Kosciuszko.”

Bowen is confident At Weitz End can fight out the finish and has named Tasmania topweight The Inevitable and Sydney sprinter Wategos as the two main dangers to At Witz End adding another Stakes race to his collection.

“The Inevitable drops in a lot in class after finishing fourth in the Stradbroke and Wategos meets us on better terms for finishing third in the Eye Liner,” Bowen said.