Disputed River on trial for Queensland Racing Carnival

By Glenn Davis

Weight may be catching up with promising stayer Disputed River but trainer Stuart Kendrick hopes the five-year-old can stretch his winning streak to four at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Disputed River – a Jake Bayliss mount – has won his past three city starts and steps out in distance to 2400 metres for the first time in the Benchmark 78 Handicap.

A son of American Pharoah, Disputed River will boost his prospects for a late Queensland Racing Carnival campaign if successful for the fifth time in 19 starts.

Kendrick paid $11,000 for Disputed River at an online auction after the gelding had won only once in 10 starts for co-trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent (Jnr) in Victoria.

“He’s done a good job for us and he keeps stepping up,” Kendrick said.

“He’s really appreciated stepping out in trip each start and he’s bred to stay.

“His biggest problem right now is he’s creeping up in the weights which makes it that much harder.

“If he can win again on Saturday, I might target the Ipswich and Caloundra Cups with him in the winter.”

Kendrick is in a similar position with stable mates Pinkus, Bonded Affair and promising youngster Can’t Recall One.

Pinkus tackles the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap over 1500 metres with Bonded Affair lining up in the Class 1 Handicap over 1200 metres while Can’t Recall One accepted in the QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap over 1400 metres.

Pinkus is coming off a last start maiden win over 1350 metres at Doomben on March 6 while Can’t Recall One was an impressive winner on debut at Eagle Farm on March 2.

“I’ve been waiting to get Pinkus up in trip for a while now and he’s a free-flowing type who likes to lead,” Kendrick said.

“Pinkus will have a big job trying to beat Tony Sears' runner Sharp Dazzler who is flying at the moment and looks the one to beat.

“But, if he can step up from a maiden win to a Saturday three-year-old race there could be a few options for him in the winter.

“The same applies to Bonded Affair and Can’t Recall One, who is a nice horse and hopefully will head to the winter two-year-old races.”