Cup on the cards for Duncan Creek

[Wandering Eyes]

Talented galloper Duncan Creek (NZ) (Super Easy) showed his prowess over ground at Wanganui on Saturday, giving Patrick Campbell the confidence to press on to the Listed Valley D’Vine Restaurant Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) in a weeks’ time.

A previous winner over 1200m and 1400m, Duncan Creek looked right at home last start in his first attempt over the middle-distance trip, finishing third behind Orlov and Tshiebwe. Stepping back to Rating 75 company, he was allocated the 61kg topweight, with two kilograms of relief courtesy of Jim Chung’s claim.

Contesting the Palamountains Nutrition (2050m), the quirky gelding was up to his usual tricks in the gates, kicking out and was fortunate to still get away on even terms with the remainder of the field. Ears pricked, he went straight to the lead and settled in a comfortable rhythm ahead of Lincoln Star.

The challengers began to swarm at the top of the straight, but Duncan Creek had plenty left to offer, holding off Lincoln Star at the post to score by three quarters of a length.

Campbell was rapt with the performance, despite the pre-race antics which he has come to expect from his charge.

“It was only his second start beyond a mile and he went very well at his first attempt, also at Wanganui, but he over-raced a bit in the early running,” Campbell said. “Yesterday, there didn’t appear to be a lot of speed in the race other than himself, so we elected to let him bowl along.

“It was pleasing the way that he ran the distance out and the way he settled in front, so hopefully that turns his outlook around because he’s been a bit wayward all the way through.

“He’s done that at virtually every race start, there’s always some sort of procedure in the gates. I think it was on cup day at Trentham, he actually reared in the gates which he’d never done before and missed the start by about six lengths.

“Other than that, he just kicks out, it’s his game and it’s a very bad habit that he’s got. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to rectify that.”

After pulling up well, the son of Super Easy is likely to make the journey from Hastings to Trentham next Saturday, with the $120,000 feature in his sights.

“It’s probably a bridge too far, but he’s come through the race overnight very well and he’s out in the paddock, so he’ll freshen up nicely,” Campbell said. “All going well, we’ll certainly look towards the Hawke’s Bay Cup next week.

“The race would be much better suited to this horse run at Otaki over 2100, instead of Wellington over 2200, but we’re playing musical chairs with where meetings are held at the moment.

“The fact that he’s stepped up over ground and handled it so well, he’s earned the right to be in it, so we’ll give it our best shot.”

The Wanganui success boosted Duncan Creek’s earnings above $216,000, with four wins and 12 minor placings from 42 starts. Bred and raced by Alex Smith, Duncan Creek is out of a King’s Chapel mare Classic Blonde.

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