BRETT Cavanough concedes his promising three-year-old Just A Bullet will have to go to another level if he is to defeat smart mare Sumakaray in today’s $50,000 Flat Knacker (900 metres).
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Just A Bullet has created a huge impression in his first preparation, winning four of his first five career starts.
The slick speedster smashed the track record at his most recent start at Albury over 1000 metres to underline his undoubted ability.
Cavanough said the Brian Cox-trained Sumakaray still remained the sprinting yardstick on the Border.
“Obviously Sumakaray is a very classy mare with a good rider in Hugh Bowman and is the testing material,” Cavanough said.
“There are a lot of fast horses in the race but you can only be fast for so long until you hit the brick wall.
“But Sumakaray has got quality written all over her and will be very hard to beat.”
One thing in Just A Bullet’s favour is he only has 54 kilograms while Sumakaray will have to carry 60.
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But Cavanough dismissed the pull in the weights as a huge advantage.
“My best chance if it’s a really wet track because Sumakaray has to lump 60 kilograms on a bog track,” he said.
“I don’t believe 60 worries horses over short courses.
“But if Sumakaray has got any chinks in her armour Just A Bullet will find them.
“He is just brilliant and doesn’t make many mistakes.
“He jumps, he leads, he kicks and he breaks track records.”
Cox said he was looking forward to the clash but may scratch Sumakaray if the track is any worse than slow.
“Sumakaray will go around if it is slow but if it’s heavy I will have to discuss it with the owners,” Cox said.
“Obviously Brett Cavanough has got a couple of smart types in the race and you have to give them credit.
“But my mare is a fighter and they will know they have been in the ring.
“Obviously carrying 60 kilograms is not ideal but she has lumped big weights before.”