Harrison Looks for Chix Pic to Confirm Star Rating in Karrakatta Plate

Posted on April 12, 2018 | Posted by Julio Santarelli

Trainer David Harrison believes he may have unearthed a star and is looking for confirmation in the $500,000 Group 2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday.

Chix Pic is unbeaten from two starts and shot to Karrakatta Plate prominence after displaying sizzling speed to lead all the way in the Listed Perth Stakes (1100m).

“He doesn’t know anything and is just a big dopey fella who should really be in the paddock,” Harrison told TABradio’s The Sports Daily.

“He just doesn’t seem to be one of those get up and go type two-year-olds, but he just has surprised me and could be pretty freakish actually.

“For what he is doing when he knows absolutely nothing is pretty special.”

Chix Pic, a grey son of Patronize, is raced by a group of 16 female owners and was purchased for $40,000 at the 2017 Magic Millions Perth Yearling sale.

Harrison said he expects Chix Pic, who won last Friday week’s Perth Stakes by a dominant 2 ½ lengths, would improve further with a gear change

“This week it will be the blinkers where he has always worked better with them,” Harrison said.

“He has got plenty up his sleeve and there is two or three lengths improvement with blinkers on.”

Chix Pic has drawn barrier 14 in the Karrakatta Plate.  In-form jockey Joe Azzopardi, who has partnered the gelding to both career wins, retains the mount.

Harrison said Chix Pic will fight for an on pace position.

“He has a good turn of foot and the barrier won’t worry him much,” Harrison said.

“He goes that quick early and once he gets into his first two strides he gets going.

“He will come across and sit outside of the leader or lead.”

“It will be one of the two.”

Chix Pic and stable mate Emerald Rose give Harrison powerful representation in the Karrakatta Plate.

Harrison considers Emerald Rose to be almost the forgotten horse in the rich juvenile feature.

The Patronize filly has yet to shed her maiden status in seven attempts, but has raced without any luck at her past two Listed outings.

In the Supremacy Stakes (1000m) she lost momentum at the start and in the Gimcrack Stakes (1100m) she was held up at a critical stage.

Despite the setbacks Harrison took a lot of delight with how Emerald Rose closed out her races when she ran the quickest final 600m.

“She hasn’t had any luck and to run the last 600m fastest when you haven’t let her go until the 200 was pretty good.”

Emerald Rose has drawn barrier 12 for Paul Harvey. TABtouch has her at $26.

Chix Pic and Valour Road are $6. Lady Cosmology holds $4.40 favouritism.