Fresh approach is Out The Bottle’s best chance in QGOLD

By Josh Spasaro

Central Queensland trainer Darren Taylor believes the best preparation for Out The Bottle will be to keep him fresh for the QGOLD Final at Rockhampton on Wednesday night.

The three-year-old qualified for the decider with a fighting third place in his heat, behind Toss The Coin and Farmor Bacardi, last Wednesday night.

Farmor Casual ran the fastest heat time of 23.65 seconds for Steven Scott, with Out The Bottle crossing the line in 23.91 seconds.

Taylor was pleased with that performance and he won’t overwork him leading into Wednesday night’s feature.

“We’ll keep him fresh. We’ve only just kept him on the lead all week,” the Bouldercombe trainer said.

“We haven’t given him a gallop. Being a 500 metre dog, we thought we’d just keep him fresh all week.

“And, then we’ll look to step him back up looking for 500 and 600 metre races. After next week he’ll probably go to The Q, have a trial and go from there.”

Out The Bottle will start from box four over 407 metres in the QGOLD Final.

“I don’t mind him there. There’s a bit of speed around,” Taylor said.

Taylor said he wanted his chaser to keep in touch with the leaders coming into the home straight.

“He’ll go good. Tough race. He’s not a sprinter. But, he’ll hold his own,” Taylor said.

“He’s going to need a little bit of luck to go his way early.

“There are a couple of speedy dogs in it. If he can hold a spot early and find himself within a couple of lengths, the way he gets to the line, he’s going to be in it.”

Taylor added that early fortune would be welcomed for his three-year-old with nine wins from 51 starts.

“He’s just got to have a few things go his way early, I think. It’s an interesting race. I think there are a few who can win it,” he said.

“Steve holds the biggest hand (with Farmor Casual) and I think Steve’s probably the one to beat.”

By Melbourne Cup winner Whiskey Riot and out of Night Time Lover, Taylor said Out The Bottle was athletically gifted like his sire.

“He can run and chase, but he just doesn’t like dogs around him. He likes to get to the outside,” he said.

“It can do your head in. I think he threw away two races at Albion Park in the past couple of months when he went to the inside, instead of staying on the outside.”