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Chris Waller had no luck at the Rosehill Guineas barrier draw on Wednesday, but Sydney's leading trainer remains confident his stable can win the $500,000 three-year-old feature for the first time.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Randwick Guineas (1600m) second placegetter Said Com will jump as the widest runner on Saturday, while Hoylonny didn't far too much better landing barrier 18.
The stable's third elect in the race, Big Time, eased the pain somewhat when drawn in barrier five but Waller wasn't concerned by where his trio would be starting from.
He said Said Com's autumn preparation had set him up to handle a run from the widest alley.
“He's the perfect horse for a bad draw he's very adaptable and we've probably sacrificed him a couple of times to teach him by going back,” Waller told Sky Sports Radio on Thursday morning.
“I hope that'll all be repaid in a race like Saturday's race, by getting back and the horse knowing what to do from that point on.
“It was a 10 out of 10 ride [by Dwayne Dunn] last start and probably made the horse look a little bit better. Another ride like that would certainly see him in the finish.”
Waller expected Hoylonny would also overcome the barrier.
“It's probably not going to worry his racing style too much, he naturally gets a slow getaway and doesn't have a lot of tactical speed,” Waller said.
“He'll just go back and we'll ride him for luck. We've got Bid Time in there as well and he has drawn well, and he'll use his gate to roll forward and put a bit of pressure on up front.
“In group-one racing, anything can happen, you can still get caught three wide from barrier three and you can have bad luck drawing barrier one.
“It's the time of the year where you do need to run and hope for a bit of luck anyway.”
The Rosehill Guineas is the peak of another massive Saturday for the Waller yard, which is chasing two-year-old success with Catkins and Fob Dubai.
Catkins will run in the Magic Night Stakes (1200m), while Fob Dubai takes on Black Caviar's half brother and raging-hot favourite All Too Hard in the Pago Pago Stakes (1200m).
Smart Man also accepted for the race, but Waller indicated he would be scratched and saved for next weekend's TL Baillieu Handicap (1400m).
He said Catkins and Fob Dubai were both capable of performing on Saturday.
“Catkins, she's drawn wide but she's got plenty of speed so she'll come across and hopefully get there near the speed,” Waller said.
“She's one step below a Slipper horse but it just gives her that last chance to win some valuable black type.
“[Fob Dubai] is a nice horse, he ran a competitive race first-up and the winner of that race Le Cap is also in there.
“On a bigger track over 1200m he could fight out the finish. He's a pretty handy horse but once again, just one step below a Slipper horse.”