By Glenn Davis
Talented sprinter Profit faces a huge task off a wide barrier to maintain his unbeaten record at Eagle Farm on Saturday but it hasn’t put a dampener on his future prospects.
Profit drew the outside barrier 11 and will take on stablemate Guntantes (barrier five) in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1400m).
Chris Anderson, who trains in partnership with five-times premiership winning trainer Rob Heathcote, formed a big opinion of Profit after the gelding won on debut at the Sunshine Coast on August 31.
“He won very well at Caloundra but this is an awful gate and he’ll need some luck,” Anderson said.
“He’s taking on more seasoned horses and this is a lot more difficult but I’ve got a big opinion of him.
“I think he’ll be even better next preparation and he’s definitely up to the Brisbane winter carnival next year.”
Profit, a son of multiple Group 1 winning sire Dundeel, cost $280,000 at the Magic Millions sales and is part owned by the late Dato Tan Chin Nam's Think Big Stud.
“We’ll reassess him after Saturday whether he goes for a break or we look at something bigger if he wins,” Anderson said.
AH Racing landed its 42nd win since the partnership began on May 1 with Profit’s Caloundra victory.
Anderson believes Guntantes’ race experience and better draw tips the scales in his favour against Profit.
“It’s a strong field as it always is in these types of three-year-old races,” Anderson said.
“Profit is a very progressive type but Guntantes has had the more education so I’d have to favour him if I had to choose between the two,” he said.
Anderson felt Guntantes was unlucky when he resumed with a close fifth to Magic Trick over 1100 metres at Ipswich on August 21.
“He had no luck when one came back on top of him at Ipswich and we’ll probably look to step him up to a mile soon,” he said.
Guntantes is a half-brother to Funtantes and Excellantes who was prepared by Heathcote during their careers.
Funtantes was a great money spinner for Heathcote winning 10 of his 50 starts including the Group 2 Champagne Classic and Listed wins in the Juanmo and Nudgee Stakes.
Racing Queensland webnews September 6