Drop in class and wet track suits Sujeed

By Glenn Davis

A massive drop in class and a soft track has boosted trainer Adam Campton’s confidence with Sujeed returning to his best form at Ipswich on Wednesday.

Sujeed drops sharply from Group 3 company to a Class Three Handicap over 1350 metres.

The three-year-old was at long odds when he beat one runner home behind the Barry Lockwood-trained Give Me Space in the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate at Eagle Farm last month.

It was a huge jump in grade after finishing third in an 1110-metre Benchmark race at Ipswich a week earlier.

“He was disappointing in the Vo Rogue and didn’t pull up too well,” Campton said.

“It was a hot day and maybe the occasion got to him.

“I want to give him a confidence booster and then I’ll send him to the paddock.

“He’s still a dumb kid and needs a strong rider so hopefully his class will get him through in this race.”

Campton claimed last season’s Gold Coast trainer’s premiership in only his third year of training and at 36 years of age has emerged as one of the rising young guns among the state’s training ranks.

Campton has a big opinion of Sujeed and had nominated him for the Magic Millions Guineas at the Gold Coast.

The emerging trainer believes Sujeed, who is a two-time winner in only six starts, will improve with racing.

“He was nominated for the Magic Millions Guineas and in time I think he’s up to a big race like that,” he said.

“In the meantime, we need to work on a few things mentally with him.

“I’ve thought about using blinkers but I don’t want to at this stage.”  

Campton has also accepted with Light Of Boom and Kote in the Open Handicap over 1100 metres.

“I think Sujeed is our best hope at Ipswich but both Kote and Light Of Boom should run well in the Open,” Campton said.

“Kote is a new horse for us from Sydney and was supposed to run at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.

“I didn’t want to run him on the polytrack there but he’s very well within himself and needs to get to the races and loves a wet track as does Light Of Boom.

“Light Of Boom is third up and is fitter and ready for a rise in trip.”

Six-year-old Light of Boom is coming off a last start third in 1205-metre Benchmark race at Coffs Harbour on December 30 while Kote left the Blake Ryan stables after finishing fifth in a 1000-metre Benchmark race on a heavy track at Eagle Farm in mid-December.