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Bernborough the next target for Cantbuybetter

9 December 2017

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By Glenn Davis

Trainer Ben Currie’s perseverance was repaid in spades when Cantbuybetter claimed the Listed Brisbane Handicap at Doomben on Saturday.

Ridden by South Australia’s Jamie Kah, Cantbuybetter took advantage of an inside run to down Hopfgarten by a long head in the 1600-metre feature.

Zahspeed was third, a further short neck away.

Currie watched the race from Hong Kong where he’s attending the annual Hong Kong International series at Sha Tin.

“It was a super win but we had to watch the race from an Irish pub,” Currie said.

“He’s had a frustrating preparation as I wanted to send him over to Perth for the (Group 1) Railway Stakes.

“But it’s very hard to win those sorts of races over there and he’s been the victim of circumstances in his past few runs.”

Currie heaped praise on Kah who came to Brisbane to ride for South Australia in the Origin Jockeys Challenge.

“Jamie is a freak and has been riding winner’s week after week.”

Currie said Cantbuybetter would have his next start in the Listed Bernborough Handicap (1600m) at Doomben on December 30.

Meanwhile promising three-year-old Zofonic Dancer earned a Queensland Derby campaign next winter following his narrow win in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1600m).

Zofonic Dancer was awkwardly placed half way down the straight before jockey Matt McGillivray hooked him wide to score by a head over Boom Epic.

Magnufighter was third, a further half length away.

Trainer Rob Heathcote, who returned from an overseas holiday this week, was thrilled with Zofonic Dancer’s win which took his record to four wins from five starts.

“He’s a nice horse with a bright future and he’ll get better the further he goes,” Heathcote said.

“I bought him as a potential Derby horse.”

Heathcote paid $100,000 for Zofonic Dancer at the 2016 Magic Millions sales but has no plans to target next month’s Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast.

“I’ve always liked the Zoffany breed as he produces wonderful stayers,” Heathcote said.

“I’ve tried a number of times to get one but they’ve always been too dear until I finally got him for $100,000.

“He’s Magic Millions eligible but 1400 metres is too short so I’ll think about it.

“But my gut feeling is to give him a break and take the traditional route in the winter to the Queensland Derby.”

Racing Queensland webnews   December 9