If the well-worn expression of ‘the luck of the draw’ came into play in the All-Star Mile barrier draw as $6 chance I’m Thunderstruck drew barrier one, while TAB’s $3 favourite Zaaki drew the outside barrier 15.
Co-trainer Mick Price would have preferred to draw wider with I’m Thunderstruck but was reluctant to totally concede the inside gate as an overwhelming negative.
“You have to cross your fingers and hope it works,” he said post-draw.
“If it works it’s great, but I would have to say I am a bit nervous about it.
“It will be Jye Mcneil’s job to be off the fence and follow the right horse.
“Barrier one is definitely a ‘traffic gate’.”
Price added that he was quite open that the four-year-old gelding would be ‘quite fat’ when resuming last start in the Group 1 Orr Stakes (1400m) but improvement has come along as expected since his fifth placing in the Futurity Stakes (1400m) last month.
“Jye rode him this morning and I think it is a good sign when your horse trucks up to the line and is strong to the line,” Price said.
“I can’t have him any better.”
Price added that he was quite open that the four-year-old gelding would be ‘quite fat’ when he resumed last start in the Group 1 Orr Stakes (1400m) but the improvement has come along as expected since his fifth placing in the Futurity Stakes (1400m) last month.
Ten Group 1 winners have made the final field for the $5 million feature over 1600 metres at Flemington on Saturday including the Orr Stakes winner Tofane ($15), while Group 1 Underwood Stakes winner Zaaki has trainer Annabel Neasham adamant that she wouldn’t swap her horse for any others despite drawing barrier 15.
“With him, he’s a horse that quite likes having room,” Neasham said.
“If you gave me the choice of barrier one of 15, I’d take 15.”
Noting that Zaaki had come through his last start second placing in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes over the same course and distance two weeks ago in ‘super order’, Neasham says that the seven-year-old has maintained his freshness.
“The fresher his is, the better he is,” she said.
“He was certainly pretty spritely this morning.”