Cheyne opts for trouble

The problem is that on most occasions one is guessing why a jockey takes a particular ride over another but sometimes it can be used as a valuable pointer. This could well be the case in Race 7 at Durbanville today, a MR 78 Handicap over 1400m in which Greg Cheyne is carded to ride Trouble Maker for trainer Joey Ramsden. What makes the choice so curious is that Cheyne has ridden Stratocruiser for Glen Kotzen in the gelding’s last three starts in which he finished second on all three occasions.

He looks a far better prospect on paper than Trouble Maker until one starts to take more note of that last run. Trouble Maker’s last run was in a strong Graduation Plate over 1300m at this track and after having been squeezed out at the start the four-year-old son of Captain Al ran on well to finish 2.75 lengths behind Sail For Gold.

After that victory assistant Candice Robinson said the Mike Bass-trained runner would be aimed at Saturday’s Grade 3 Matchem Stakes over 1400m at Durbanville. He would have been strongly fancied to win the feature but Act Of War has been supplemented into the race and despite a wide draw, looks the runner they all have to beat.

It could well be that Cheyne was impressed with the performance of Trouble Maker and, from No 4 draw, believes his mount is a better option that Stratocruiser, who will now be ridden by Andrew Fortune.

At 6-1 Trouble Maker could well be the better value in the race.