By Glenn Davis
Co-trainer Peter Hulbert is hopeful Paper Trade can overcome an awkward barrier to start the New Year on a winning note at Doomben on Wednesday.
Paper Trade has not won since his victory in a Class Three at Rockhampton in June and has drawn the outside gate in a field of seven in the Class Four Handicap (1200m).
Hulbert, who trains in partnership with son Will, has had a bad run with barriers over the Christmas period and is hoping his barrier luck with change in time for the Magic Millions Guineas at the Gold Coast on Saturday week.
Team Hulbert will saddle up Oh Five Glory in the $2 million feature over 1400 metres.
Paper Trade has only six opponents and is coming off a last start fourth to the Tony Gollan-trained Vienna Power at Eagle Farm on December 14.
The five-year-old’s best performance in five starts this campaign was when he finished second to the Steve O’dea-trained Jami Lady in a 1000-metre Class Four at the Sunshine Coast on December 6.
“He’s got a bad draw but it’s only a small field and he’s not the greatest beginner so he’ll get back,” Hulbert said.
“He should still be hard to beat in this field on his last run alone.
“He should have beaten Jami Lady at Caloundra two starts back when Jami Lady got a miracle run along the fence and only just got him on the line.”
Hulbert’s barrier luck also has deserted him with No Refund who drew barrier 18 in the Benchmark 70 Handicap (1350m).
“He’s a go forward horse so I’ll talk to the owners before deciding if he’ll start,” Hulbert said.
No Refund was placed in a Class Four and failed in a similar Benchmark race at Doomben in November before a last start ninth when he led in a Benchmark 65 race at the Sunshine Coast on December 6.
Meanwhile Hulbert is hoping Oh Five Glory can reproduce the effort she showed in last year’s Magic Millions Classic when she was the best performed of the Queensland runners when fifth to Exhilarates.
The daughter of ill-fated sire Unencumbered ran second In the Listed Mode Plate at Doomben in November before finishing sixth and eighth behind Alligator Blood in the Listed Gold Edition and Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate at Eagle Farm this month.
“I doubt she’ll beat Alligator Blood but if she gets a good alley the prizemoney is very good for second,” he said.
Racing Queensland webnews December 31