Durrant Rates Aquanita Stakes Hopes Highly

Posted on July 6, 2018 | Posted by Julio Santarelli

Adam Durrant is bullish about the future of Come Play With Me and expects him to be a major threat in the Listed Aquanita Stakes (2000m) at Belmont on Saturday.

Come Play With Me has had to overcome a minor setback, but Durrant believes the Blackfriars gelding is poised to continue his winning ways against his own age group.

Come Play With Me has won his past two races against older horse over 2100m and 2000m at Belmont and is in fight for favouritism with State Prosecutor.

He bolted in to defeat Elegant Blast by four lengths, but it was his fighting win over the same mare three weeks ago that boosted Durrant’s optimism.

“It’s not an easy task to carry 58.5kg against the older horses,” Durrant said on Tabradio.

“The start before when he won by a big space I thought everything went to plan for him.

“He looked better than what he was, but in saying that he won well and ran a good sectional.

“At his next start he had to absorb all the pressure and had to go when everything else went.

“But he still fought them off when he looked like he was out on his feet at the 100m.

“To me that’s the sign of a pretty good horse and one that is going places.”

Durrant, who is chasing his first Aquanita Stakes victory, said Come Play With Me was back on track after an injury scare threatened to end his campaign.

“We had a little setback when he wrenched his joint in that race,” Durrant said.

“We nearly put him out, but kept tinkering away and his leg has come back perfectly well.

“His work has been great and I’m really happy with him.

“He will run well.”

Peter Knuckey will ride Come Play With Me, replacing William Pike, who has opted to partner, State Prosecutor.

Come Play With Me and the Grant and Alana Williams-trained State Prosecutor are even money favourites with TABtouch.

Durrant said State Prosecutor, an impressive winner of the Belmont Guineas (1600m) a fortnight ago, is a real threat

“State Prosecutor won the Guineas and hit the line strong,” Durrant said.

“His pedigree suggests he will get the trip.

“He will be hard to beat.”