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For a change, there was hardly a glum face at the Post Position Draw for Sunday’s $1.35 million Group 1 Longines Singapore Gold Cup (2200m) on Thursday morning.
While it is inevitable not everybody among the connections of the 14 contenders can pick up the more coveted inside gates, those who were handed double-digit marbles were not frowning too much either.
For example, trainer Michael Freedman, a regular recipient of unenviable barriers at such events, was, for once, not rueing his bad luck as much even after he drew two of the worst numbers – 12 and 13 for Tropaios and Super Ninetyseven respectively, simply because they normally race in a rearward position.
Even those with speedy customers drawn a bit outside were giving upbeat reactions, like four-time Singapore Gold Cup winner Hideyuki Takaoka on Musketeer who will break from barrier No 9.
Respect for the elders has been honoured as the oldest contender, eight-year-young Street Legal is the one who will bounce closest to the starter in the innermost alley.
STREET LEGAL - Barrier No 1
“I could not be happier with the draw,” said trainer Bruce Marsh. “Hopefully he will find himself midfield and relax in the run
“Everything has gone according to plan. He pulled up well after his trial on Tuesday (when second to Speedy Cat) and he’s got all the ticks in all the right boxes.
“He’s ready to run the race of his life.”
BORN TO FLY - Barrier No 2
“That’s what (barrier No 2) he needs and that’s the race he’s been set for,” said trainer Stephen Gray.
“The only disadvantage is he’s never run the trip. He’s only gone up to 1800m, but from that barrier, Lisa (Allpress) will be able to put him to sleep early and let him come home.
“He’s had a good prep and I can’t be any happier with the way he will present himself on Sunday.
“He’s got a light weight, and will have one of the best riders on him. If he can take the short way home, he should be right in the mix.
“If he doesn’t run in the first four or five, it’s not because he’s not good enough, it’s because he can’t stay.
“If it rains, it will be even better for him.”
DRAGONFLY – Barrier No 3
“Much will depend on the early speed, but I’m very happy with the draw. I respect all the other 13 horses, but I saw that two of the leading chances, Super Ninetyseven and Martin, have drawn the outside,” said trainer Leticia Dragon.
“He’s been working consistently. It’s all up to the jockey (Craig Newitt) now.”
WILD GEESE – Barrier No 4
“Beautiful. I’ve not had the best of luck at the barriers recently. Luckily Dr Tan (Kai Chah) was the one who did it this morning,” said trainer Steven Burridge.
“I couldn’t have wished for a better barrier. Being an Irish-bred, he will handle a bit of give, but not too heavy.“He had a nice run in the Raffles Cup, and we can only hope he comes on from that. I’m more than happy with the way things have come along, and now we've got a perfect draw.”
ORAKEI KORAKO, DUJARDIN and MARTIN - Barriers No 5, 8 & 14
Trainer Laurie Laxon was nonplussed by the draws.
“Martin is a get-back horse anyway so the outside draw doesn’t really concern,” said Laxon. “He’s had a good preparation and has handled a step-up in distance previously.
“Dujardin has a nice draw. He should be able to slot in somewhere in the run and hopefully work home at the finish. His work on Tuesday morning was good and he goes into the race in good order.
“Orakei Korako is on the way up. He’s got young legs and is coming right just at the right time. He’s only got 50kg on his back and has (Barend) Vorster on him. He shouldn’t be too far away at the finish.”
LORD BROMPTON and TENZING - Barriers No 6 & 11“Both horses are well and good,” said trainer Cliff Brown.
“Tenzing stays all day and the wetter the better for him. His run behind Street Legal (two starts back) I thought was good and he meets him better at the weight.
“Lord Brompton has had a bit of an unusual preparation – it might work and it might not. We’ll see what happens.
“He’s only had the one trial and the one run over 1400m. He’s a light-framed horse and his best runs have all been when fresh.
“He’s the same weight as his winning weights have been during the week. He’s also coming off a (Singapore) Derby preparation, so there would have been some fitness there as well.”
LITTLEBITOFJOY – Barrier No 7
“This kind of draw suits everybody. I really don’t know how he will race on that day,” said trainer Edylyn Goh.
“Sometimes he goes forward, sometimes he takes a sit. He’s a bit unpredictable.
“But I guess I have to be happy with this draw.”
Owner Eugene Khoo representing Mas Stable was showing a “little bit more joy” about the Malaysian-based US-bred gelding’s hopes.
“I’m very happy with his draw. Hope he runs well,” he said.
MUSKETEER – Barrier No 9
“As you saw at his last two runs, he does better when he goes forward,” said trainer Hideyuki Takaoka who is chasing his fifth Singapore Gold Cup win.
“I don’t think there is much speed in the race. I am confident he can be quick enough to be up there in front from that draw.”
CASH LUCK – Barrier No 10
“It's not a bad draw. I was looking for something on the inside but 10 for me is okay,” said trainer David Kok. “It's a long race so I don't think the barrier will really affect the race too much.
“For me, it really depends on the going. I'd prefer if it was good. It's not that Cash Luck can't win on a wet track, but I'd prefer if it wasn't soft.
“When he ran in the Raffles Cup it was soft, and I was a bit disappointed with his performance.”
Cash Luck’s new partner will be newly-arrived Brazilian jockey Vagner Leal who has already booted home two winners at Kranji since his riding debut last month.
“I've been working with the horse every day for 2 weeks. I'm not worried about the barrier, it's not a problem,” said Leal.
“What's more important to the horse is the speed of the race. He likes to run close to the front but we'll see how the race goes.”
TROPAIOS and SUPER NINETYSEVEN - Barriers No 12 &13
Trainer Michael Freedman’s luck – or rather lack of it – continued in Post Position Draws when his two runners drew towards the outside.
“At least I didn’t have anything to do with it, this year I’ve just had to train them,” said Freedman.
“Both are fit and well. They both worked on Wednesday morning and appear to have come through the work well.
“Really, the draw shouldn’t be too much of a worry for them as they both tend to get back a bit anyway.
“Naturally you would like a nice barrier, but they are not leaders anyway. So in that respect it’s not the end of the world.
“It’s now all up to the jockeys (Alan Munro on Super Ninetyseven and Tommy Berry on Tropaios) to go out there and do their jobs and hopefully come home a winner.”