Racing: Draw 'no threat' to Our Lukas

Sir Slick is one of several Kiwi horses in the Ipswich Cup today. Photo / Supplied

BRISBANE: Trainer Rob Heathcote believes a wide barrier draw won't be a disadvantage for Our Lukas in his bid to become the first horse to win two Listed Ipswich Cups.

Our Lukas has the outside barrier, 14, and 56kg, 3kg more than he carried in last year's Ipswich Cup victory, and Heathcote says he's not as confident about this year's 2150m feature today.

The Ipswich Cup was first run in 1860 and Ipswich Turf Club officials say no horse has won the race twice.

Heathcote rates this year's field as stronger than last year's race and has great respect for Waikato pair Sir Time Keeper and Sir Slick, as well as Victorian Baughurst and local galloper Teary Eyed.

"Last year's race had more numbers but this year has the better quality," Heathcote said.

"Baughurst is a top-quality stayer and I'm not underestimating him or any of the others, including the Kiwi runners.

"The alley doesn't worry me. I wanted to draw wide with him.

"The last time he won he drew well but was slow away and had Rockdale clear a passage for him.

"The horse can dwell at the start and it would be dangerous for him if he had an inside draw."

Heathcote doesn't expect Our Lukas will lead like he did last year when he was taken to the front by Larry Cassidy.

Stathi Katsidis, who won the AJC Australian Derby and Randwick Guineas on Shoot Out during the autumn, will ride the 6-year-old for the third successive time. Katsidis had his first ride on Our Lukas when runner-up to Rothesay in the Lord Mayor's Cup at Doomben last month before winning the Strawberry Road Handicap at Eagle Farm last Saturday. Katsidis is yet to win an Ipswich Cup.

Heathcote doesn't expect to see Our Lukas involved in a speed battle with likely leader Sir Time Keeper, who will be ridden by Gold Coast jockey Laura Cheshire, and stablemate Sir Slick.

Glen Colless has answered an SOS from trainer Graeme Nicholson to be reunited with Sir Slick after last-start rider David Walsh returned to New Zealand following their Brisbane Cup failure last Saturday.

Colless rode Sir Slick five times last winter for three Group placings in the Hollindale Stakes, Chairman's Handicap and Doomben Cup.

Nicholson favours Sir Time Keeper as his better hope of winning before he returns home.

"I don't want to see him pull so he'll lead and Sir Slick will take a trail.

"But Sir Slick is capable of anything and he'll lead from his good draw early on but I expect his stablemate will go around him."

Nicholson rates Our Lukas as the biggest threat to his pair over fellow Kiwi runners Sand Hawk, Solid Billing and Calatrava. "I'm not bagging the other New Zealand runners but I don't see them as a threat."

Meanwhile, trainer Mike Moroney is enjoying a week of relaxation on a beach in Thailand and will be hoping a phone call delivers good news about his two feature-race contenders on Ipswich Cup day.

Moroney flew out of Brisbane on Thursday for a Phuket holiday leaving his staff to saddle up Calatrava in the Ipswich Cup and Skiddaw Peak in the Eye Liner Stakes.

Moroney isn't getting carried away with his Ipswich prospects.

Calatrava has failed to fire in her two Brisbane appearances this winter while Skiddaw Peak also disappointed at his Queensland debut.

Calatrava finished 13th to Crossthestart in the Group Three Chairman's Hcp (2020m) at Doomben on May 15 before finishing down the track in the same position to Triple Honour in the Group Two Eagle Farm Cup (2200m) on June 5.

"She was very disappointing last start," Moroney said.

"I expected a lot better from her but we can't find any excuses." Calatrava has only started twice in Australia after winning seven times in New Zealand.

The rising six-year-old mare has tried a handful of times to win black type across the Tasman but is yet to be successful.

- AAP