Trainer Pat Duff has all bases covered with Villiers Stakes hopefuls Hard To Catch and Cocktail Supreme in the Listed Recognition Stakes at Eagle Farm.Duff believes the 1600-metre feature on Saturday won't see a repeat of the Listed Brisbane Handicap (1600m) victory by talented mare Alverta at Eagle Farm 10 days ago.The Paul Messara-trained Alverta started a short-priced favourite in her Brisbane Handicap triumph when she downed Nellie Got There and Hard To Catch."I don't believe it's a one-hors
Trainer Pat Duff has all bases covered with Villiers Stakes hopefuls Hard To Catch and Cocktail Supreme in the Listed Recognition Stakes at Eagle Farm.
Duff believes the 1600-metre feature on Saturday won't see a repeat of the Listed Brisbane Handicap (1600m) victory by talented mare Alverta at Eagle Farm 10 days ago.
The Paul Messara-trained Alverta started a short-priced favourite in her Brisbane Handicap triumph when she downed Nellie Got There and Hard To Catch.
"I don't believe it's a one-horse race again. It's a three-horse race now and I've got two of the better chances," Duff said.
Duff's confidence soared after Queensland Racing Limited handicappers penalised Alverta 1.5 kilograms for her Brisbane Handicap victory to 58kg for the Recognition Stakes while topweight Hard To Catch will again carry 61kg.
Duff had some mixed feelings after Cocktail Supreme received 55.5kg, a rise of 1.5kg in the Recognition.
"Hard To Catch worked the best in his life at Deagon today and it won't matter what kind of track he gets," Duff said.
"He can handle a heavy track but he's better on top of the ground.
"He hasn't seen a grass training track for the past 10 days because of the recent rain but he was on the course proper today and his work was fantastic.
"Cocktail Supreme pulled up well following his second last Saturday and if it's a wet track in the Recognition he'll be right in it.
"The last time Cocktail Supreme met Alverta was in the Ascot Handicap on a heavy track at Eagle Farm in the winter and he thrashed her by four and a half lengths."
Duff expected Alverta's 1.5 kilogram penalty but not a similar rise in weight for Cocktail Supreme who was runner-up to Forestreno in the Keith Noud Quality (1200m) at Eagle Farm last Saturday.
"The handicappers certainly haven't missed Cocktail Supreme. He's been penalised the same weight for running second as Alverta did for winning a Listed race," he said.
Duff is considering a trip to Sydney next month with both Hard To Catch and Cocktail Supreme.
"Hard To Catch can go on to the Doomben Stakes and then the Bernborough Handicap or he could go to Sydney for the Villiers," Duff said.
"I want to test Cocktail Supreme over a mile (1600m) and I may send him to Sydney for the Festival Stakes and if he runs well in that he might also go on to the Villiers."
The Listed Festival Stakes (1500m) will be run at Randwick on Saturday week, a fortnight before the Group Two Villiers Stakes (1600m) on the same track.
The Listed Doomben Stakes will be run the same day as the Villiers Stakes.