Despite the 3200-metre journey of the Melbourne Cup, when it comes to barrier draws the gap in starting from pole position compared to gate 21 still seems, on face value, to be a long way between being fortunate or otherwise.
Owner Ozzie Kheir part owns four runners engaged in this Tuesday’s running of the Group 1 $8.5 million event and when it came to drawing the barrier for race favourite Buckaroo, among those left were one and 21.
FULL BARRIER DRAW Scroll down to see the full field and barrier draw
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Barrier 21 it would be, and despite the psychological advantage a nearer position might have, he is sees it as the better option out of the two.
“I didn’t have a lot to choose from and I’d rather be in 21 than one, to be honest,” Kheir said.
“It isn’t ideal, but it is a long straight at Flemington and hopefully he settles midfield and the rest…. fingers crossed.”
Buckaroo is the $5.50 post-barrier draw favourite and will be shooting to emulate Vow And Declare’s victory back in 2019 from 21.
After a gallant second placing in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), the step up to two miles is still a task that carries some doubt.
“We’re still confident that he will run out the trip (but) there are question marks,” Kheir said.
“I genuinely think he is probably a stayer (who has been) running over shorter trips so I’ve got to have the view that if he’s good enough to win over a mile and 1800-metres, I genuinely think he’s a better horse over 2400-metres or further.”
Of Kheir’s other Melbourne Cup starters, impressive Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) winner Sea King (rated a $9 chance) drew the inside in barrier one, Interpretation ($15) in 14 and wider hope Saint George in nine.
Second-attempt Irish raider and topweight Vauban drew barrier 11 while stablemate Absurde – seventh in last year’s Melbourne Cup – drew barrier seven.
2023 VRC Oaks (2500m) winner Zardozi, who impressed today with a fifth placing in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), drew barrier four and firmed one point in markets to $17.
– RAS NewsWire
Melbourne Cup field and barrier draw
Ballot Order – Horse (barrier) – Trainer – Jockey – Weight
1 – VAUBAN (11) – Willie Mullins – William Buick – 55.5kg
2 – BUCKAROO (21) – Chris Waller – Joao Moreira – 54.5kg
3 – CIRCLE OF FIRE (24) – Ciaron Maher – Mark Zahra – 54.5kg
4 – WARP SPEED (3) – Noboru Takagi – Akira Sugawara – 54kg
5 – KOVALICA (17) – Chris Waller – Damian Lane – 53.5kg
6 – SHARP ‘N’ SMART (15) – Graeme & Deborah Rogerson – Michael Dee – 53.5kg
7 – JUST FINE (13) – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Jye McNeill – 53kg
8 – LAND LEGEND (18) – Chris Waller – Zac Purton – 53kg
9 – ABSURDE (7) – Willie Mullins – Kerrin McEvoy – 52.5kg
10 – ATHABASCAN (2) – John O’Shea & Tom Charlton – Zac Lloyd – 52kg
11 – KNIGHT’S CHOICE (6) – John Symons & Sheila Laxon – Robbie Dolan – 51.5kg
12 – OKITA SOUSHI (10) – Ciaron Maher – Jamie Kah – 51kg
13 – ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (12) – Brian Ellison – Craig Williams – 51kg
14 – ZARDOZI (4) – James Cummings – Andrea Atzeni – 51kg
15 – SEA KING (1) – Harry Eustace – Hollie Doyle – 50.5kg
16 – VALIANT KING (22) – Chris Waller – Craig Newitt – 50.5kg
17 – FANCY MAN (19) – Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald – Ron Stewart – 50kg
18 – INTERPRETATION (14) – Ciaron Maher – Teo Nugent – 50kg
19 – MANZOICE (8) – Chris Waller – Declan Bates – 50kg
20 – MOSTLY CLOUDY (16) – Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young – Karis Teetan – 50kg
21 – POSITIVITY (20) – Andrew Forsman – Winona Costin – 50kg
22 – SAINT GEORGE (9) – Ciaron Maher – Tyler Schiller – 50kg
23 – THE MAP (23) – Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray – Rachel King – 50kg
24 – TRUST IN YOU (5) – Bruce Wallce & Grant Cooksley – Mark Du Plessis – 50kg
