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Eagle Farm Preview: 2nd March 2024

3 minute read

Trainer Adam Campton is hopeful Charge On can run a “cheeky” race when the former Hong Kong sprinter makes his comeback at Eagle Farm on Saturday,

Racecourse : Eagle Farm.
Racecourse : Eagle Farm. Picture: @eaglefarmracecourse

Charge On – a Taylor Marshall mount - steps out for the first time since September last year when he bled from both nostrils and was forced to the spelling paddock for a mandatory three months.

The seven-year-old was due to barrier trial at the Gold Coast on Tuesday but Campton preferred to have him fresh as possible ahead of his return in the Open Handicap over 1000 metres.

"I was going to trial him but he bled after his last start so I wanted him as fresh as possible for his first-up run," Campton said.

"He's going good but he'll definitely improve after this race.

"If he can repeat his last run when he ran second to Hakkai Maru I think he'll run a cheeky race."

Charge On was beaten less than one length by the Lousie White-trained Hakkai Maru in a 1000-metre Class Four at the Sunshine Coast on September 24 last year.

Campton, 35, is only in his second full year of training and has eyes on winning the Gold Coast trainers' premiership.

He worked in Hong Kong for several years before arriving on the Gold Coast where he started with a handful of horses in his stable.

Fast forward to now and the emerging trainer has rapidly built his stable numbers to 48 including his star sprinter Deepour who is still in pre-training ahead of his Stradbroke Handicap mission during the Queensland Racing Carnival.

"Deepour has three more weeks of pre-training before he comes back into full work and he's had a good break," Campton said.

"The Stradbroke is our dream and we'll try to win a couple of early winter races with him."

Campton admits he was surprised when Charge On bled after his last campaign.

"He never showed any signs of having a bleed before that and he has always raced consistently," he said.

"I'll see how he goes this campaign but there's nothing mapped out for him yet.

"We could possibly wait to the end of the winter and set him for the Ramornie at Grafton.

"There's some nice races for him here as well but he's a seven-year-old now and he'll need to get his rating up."

Campton trained his first Saturday city winner when Deepour won at Doomben just over 12 months ago.


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