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Gold Coast trainer John Gilmore is optimistic that consistent sprinter Jubai Pride can overcome an awkward barrier to end a frustrating run of placings at Eagle Farm on Wednesday.
Jubai Pride has drawn barrier nine in a field of 10 in the Class Four Handicap over 1600 metres.
"It's not the best of draws and I would have preferred to draw in further," John Gilmore said.
"But hopefully she'll be able to settle a bit better over the 1600 metres and get back a bit further."
Gilmore has booked apprentice Jaden Lloyd, whose 1.5kgs claim brings the five-year-old mare well in at the weights with only 53kgs.
Lloyd rode Jubai Pride two starts back when the daughter of Pride Of Dubai finished third to the Chris Waller-trained Green Flash in a 1640 metres Benchmark race at Doomben on December 9.
Jubai Pride was ridden by Larry Cassidy last start when she again finished third behind the Chris Munce-trained Majestic Request in a 1400-metre Class Four at the Sunshine Coast on December 23.
"Jaden got off the day he rode her and thought she was ready to win," Gilmore said.
"Larry rode her last start when she raced too handy and he said she would be better ridden off the pace.
"She's better off like that when she can have one go at them.
"Going to 1600 metres will suit her but she would have been a better chance if drawn inside."
Gilmore has trained Jubai Pride for her entire career of 31 starts which has produced four wins and 10 placings.
"We got her off Michael Costa well before he went overseas to train," Gilmore said.
"She had a few issues early in her career but she's over them now.
"She used to tie-up a lot which is a dieting issue so we changed her feed and her work on the track."
Gilmore also changed her gear and now uses blinkers and a tongue tie on Dubai Pride.
"I put a tongue tie on her for her last few runs and she's placed at her last four starts," he said.
Gilmore's career has taken him to Macau, Beijing, Wuhan, Inner Mongolia and Shanxi over more than three decades but he's now content training a team of seven horses at the Gold Coast.
He won the Listed Ipswich Cup in 2021 with the recently retired Happy Go Plucky, a winner of almost $500,000 in prize money with 10 wins and 19 placings from 73 starts.
