TRAINER Leon Corstens will send his Queensland Derby hopeful Zabeelionaire north tomorrow to contest the group 1 classic, but he admits being concerned by the fluctuating weather, reports The Age (www.theage.com.au).It says: The South Australian Derby winner three weeks ago has been high in markets since that win, and is considered the one colt who can break the grip of trainer Peter Moody, who has three of the top four favourites for the race. Corstens is not concerned at the opposition Zabeeli
TRAINER Leon Corstens will send his Queensland Derby hopeful Zabeelionaire north tomorrow to contest the group 1 classic, but he admits being concerned by the fluctuating weather, reports The Age (www.theage.com.au).
It says: The South Australian Derby winner three weeks ago has been high in markets since that win, and is considered the one colt who can break the grip of trainer Peter Moody, who has three of the top four favourites for the race. Corstens is not concerned at the opposition Zabeelionaire faces, but rather what track surface will be on offer on Saturday at Eagle Farm.
On Saturday the Queensland Oaks meeting was saturated by constant rain that caused the track to be downgraded to a heavy 10.
''Of course it's a problem, I'd much prefer a dry track, and even if it's a favourable forecast I just wonder how quickly last Saturday's rain will dry out,'' Corstens said.
''He's had one run on the wet and he failed at Moonee Valley, but that night Stephen Baster told me that it was more through greenness than him not handling the track for his downfall. But I'm sending him naturally because it's a group 1 race. He's already a Derby winner and as he has potential stallion prospects, it certainly will bolster his reputation.''