WAGGA trainer Chris Heywood is confident the prospect of a wet track will only boost the chances of a drought-breaking victory for Leucura on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Heywood will take a competitive team of eight horses to the six-race card at Murrumbidgee Turf Club, where a crowd upwards of 4000 is expected to attend the annual Kurrajong Waratah charity race day.
Leucura will start as one of the fancies in the feature race – the $8000 Thomas Bros Toyota Kurrajong Waratah Cup (1200m) – where he will look to end an almost 11-month winning drought.
Leucura has been knocking on the door, with a second in the Town Plate Prelude and a sixth in the $100,000 main event earlier this month.
Heywood now wants to see him break through and return to winning form.
“He’s overdue to knock one off, well and truly,” Heywood said.
“You would have to think on form alone he’s one of the main chances, and he loves the wet.
“Stranger things have happened though.”
Wagga apprentice Lily Coombe takes the ride and her two kilogram claim helps Leucura get in with 57kg from barrier three.
The rain will certainly help his chances with five of Leucura’s six career wins coming on rain-affected tracks. He has five wins and three minor placings from nine starts on soft or heavy going.
Heywood also has Not Too Sure in the feature sprint, who is also looking to end a winning drought that spans back to March last year.
The grey only recently returned to Heywood’s stable and is due for a change of luck.
“He’s finally drawn a gate but probably won’t handle the track that well,” Heywood said.
“He needs the run because at his last three he’s been very unlucky.”
Heywood also has high hopes for Asunder, Delivered and She Excites.
“All of mine should be thereabouts,” he said.