Barrier encourages Birchley in Tatt’s Mile
Fit For Purpose will be given his chance at Listed level in the Tatt’s Mile at Doomben.
A good barrier draw has convinced trainer Liam Birchley to chase successive Tattersall’s Mile wins at Doomben.
Birchley has Fit For Purpose from barrier two in the Listed race, the final stakes event of the Queensland racing season.
The trainer said he had only been half-hearted when he nominated Fit For Purpose for the race.
“There didn’t look like being many for the race and I threw in a nomination,” Birchley said.
“It looks like everyone else had the same idea and there is a near-capacity field.
“But now we have drawn so well, I think he has a real chance.
“We can be far more aggressive on him and take up a handier position.”
Birchley won the race last year with Crack Me Up who went on to win the Group Two Villiers Stakes at Randwick.
The trainer said while Fit For Purpose wasn’t in the same class as Crack Me Up, he was an improving type.
Fit For Purpose ran second to the in-form Bluebrook at Caloundra last week and beat that horse at Ipswich three runs back.
Much-travelled gelding Craiglea Deken will confirm his toughness when he has his 23rd start for the season in the race.
Craiglea Deken has been campaigning in country and provincial regions carrying weights of up to 65.kg.
It is nothing new for the Krystle Johnston-trained gelding who has clocked up well over 100,000km in his career tackling races at 12 different tracks around the state.
His overall record reads 63 starts for 16 wins and 21 placings since he started racing in March 2015.
Veteran jockey Jason Taylor rode Craiglea Deken at his last start when a close-up seventh in the Mackay Newmarket last week and retains the ride.
“He is tough horse down in the weights and his 1600-metre form is good,” Taylor said.
Trainer Barry Baldwin has booked in-form jockey Tegan Harrison for capable Doomben 1600m horse Glendara.
Glendara has won twice at the Doomben 1600m, including the Listed Members Cup in March.
“Tegan doesn’t ride for me often but she should suit Glendara as she gets her horses out and running,” Baldwin said.