Sydney an option for Darktown Strutter
Jeff Lloyd has ridden Darktown Strutter to another short-course win at the Gold Coast.
Talented filly Darktown Strutter has confirmed her rating as a Gold Coast specialist but she could be headed to Sydney in the near future.
Darktown Strutter ($1.30) made it four wins from four starts at the Gold Coast and three from three at 900m when she won a Benchmark 75 handicap on Wednesday.
Her previous wins had come when she showed blistering early speed but she was caught three-deep so Jeff Lloyd eased her in behind the pace before letting her loose.
Trainer Kelly Schweida was pleased Darktown Strutter had shown she could be ridden off the pace as a pointer to the future.
“I have had a good talk to the owners and we are thinking that a trip to Sydney might be an option,” Schweida said.
“An 1100 metre three-year-old fillies race at Warwick Farm or Canterbury would suit her.”
Schweida said the Bat Out Of Hell (900m) at the Gold Coast in May could also be a target.
“She obviously likes the Gold Coast and the 900 metres. The problem is if you win a race like the Bat Out Of Hell as a three-year-old you get hammered at the weights later,” he said.
Lloyd made it a winning double when Alleviator ($1.90) won a maiden (900m) for trainer Toby Edmonds.
“He was a big green dumpy horse when we got him but he has come along well. He might make a good horse with more experience,” Edmonds said.
Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller’s Queensland stable continued to dominate middle distance races when Exoteric ($4.40) won the Open Handicap (1800m).
Waller has now won 16 metropolitan races in Queensland this season and 13 have been at 1800m or further.
“It was a good effort from Exoteric because he had only one trial going into this race first up. You will see him on Saturday soon,” Waller’s Queensland manager Paul Shailer said.