Hulbert hoping Kipling’s Journey can overcome wide barrier
The day Will Hulbert draws a good barrier might be the day he gives horse training away.
This weekend, the training partnership of Will and his father Peter saddle up three runners across Queensland, with all of them drawn in barrier 10.
The stable takes one runner to Ipswich’s feature meeting on Saturday, with last-start winner Kipling’s Journey lining up in the Provincial Stayers Final over 2500m – the same race Incentivise won 12 months ago.
The classy three-year-old sits on the second line of betting with online bookmakers as a $3.90 chance, with Mark Du Plessis to ride.
Provincial Stayers Final (2500m)
Race 3 – 
#10 Kipling’s Journey (10)
3yo Gelding | T: Peter & Will Hulbert | J: Mark Du Plessis (52.5kg)
While barrier 10 isn’t too much of a concern for noted backmarker Kipling’s Journey, co-trainer Will Hulbert would love to draw a good gate “for once”.
“It’s unbelievable mate; every weekend our horses are drawing outside barriers,” he told HorseBetting.
“It won’t bother him too much I suppose, but it’d be nice to draw a good one for once.”
With the winner of this race last year going on to bigger and better things, Hulbert said it would be nice to have his son of Zoustar on the honour roll alongside the 2021 Caulfield Cup winner.
Kipling’s Journey is a quirky animal at home, with his breeding suggesting that he wouldn’t be any good beyond 1200m, so to see him winning over staying distances is a bit of a surprise to the yard.
“He (Incentivise) has definitely been the best horse to ever win it, so it’d be nice if our boy can win it this year,” the trainer said.
“It’s handy with Mark being able to ride so light to take advantage of the true weight scale.
“It’s a bit of a weird one. By Zoustar out of an Exceed And Excel mare – he’s probably bred to not go past 1200m, but here we are at more than double that.
“He’s always had ability. From his first ever gallop he just had good raw, natural ability. He’s got a massive stride and a good set of lungs – he just feels like he could run all day.
“When you’re on his back, it’s like you’re on a magic carpet ride – it’s just so smooth.”