HKIR News : Barrier draw - connections of top runners unfazed by wide draws

13 December 2001

This morning's barrier draw for Sunday's International races was not kind, at face value, to three of the major players in the feature races but connections remained unperturbed
despite chance dealing them the less than coveted outside gate.

American sprinter Morluc, runner-up last year, drew 14 in the International Sprint and the same gate fate befell the well fancied Japanese Vase contender Stay Gold and the German warhorse Silvano in the Hong Kong Cup.

'We'll live with it,' mused Morluc's trainer Randy Morse and that summed up the reaction from most owners, trainers and jockeys whose horses fared badly at the draw. After all they have no choice.

Morse can comfort himself with the knowledge that 13 winners have come from the outside four gates (11 through to 14 inclusive) in the 31 races run over the International
Sprint course in the past five seasons at Sha Tin.

Last year's Sprint winner Falvelon drew four which pleased trainer Dan Bougoure. 'Happy with that. He won the race from five last year,' Bougoure said.

Alongside the defending champion in gate five is the English mare Nice One Clare. And that's nice indeed according to Johnny Murtagh who will ride the five-year-old. 'Drawn next to the favourite. That suits me,' Murtagh said.

Japanese Sprint contender Mejiro Darling drew 10 which pleased his trainer Yokichi Okubo. 'It's my luckiest draw.' Okubo said, 'my first stakes winner came from ten and my
first graded stakes winner also drew that barrier.'

His compatriot Yasutoshi Ikee, representing his father who trains Stay Gold, said he was
not concerned that the seven-year-old had drawn 14 in the Vase. 'It suits him to be out
there with some room,' he said.

While very few 2400 metres races are run on the A course at Sha Tin it should be noted
that four winners have come from the inside four gates in the tally of just six races run over the course in the past five seasons. Oriental Express, White Heart, Rainbow And Gold and Survey General occupy those four slots in Sunday's race.

Daliapour drew eight in the Vase which was 'fine' according to Johnny Murtagh. Zindabad jumps from six which pleases trainer Mark Johnston. Before the draw, Johnston said he hoped to draw between five and nine. His wish was granted. 'He's a slow starter and I didn't want him cluttered up drawing one or two,' Johnston said.

The colt Foundation Spirit drew 10 in the Vase. 'That's good,' declared trainer Francois
Doumen, 'He's a big actioned horse and I didn't want him drawn inside.'

Doumen's legendary, durable and highly talented Jim And Tonic drew five in the Hong Kong Cup. 'Oh, that's tight enough for him. But he's drawn everywhere in his runs here in
Hong Kong and always performed well, Doumen said.

The 2000 metres Cup may well be the race where the draw is most significant. There is only a short run to the first turn and in the 16 races run over the course in the past five seasons nine winners have come from the inside four gates. Barrier one has produced five winners.

Silvano drew 14 in the Vase but jockey Andreas Suborics was not bothered. 'It makes no difference. The horse won the QE 11 Cup here from 13, Suborics said.

French hope Terre A Terre is alongside Silvano in 13. 'It may be his lucky number,' owner Henri Devin observed, 'he won from that draw in Paris.'

Godolphin's China Visit and the David Hayes trained Super Molly were best served in the
Mile draw with barriers one and two respectively and thus Frankie Dettori (riding the former) and Damien Oliver (for Hayes) - who quinealled the jockey's challenge midweek - will be eyeballing each other right from the off.

Statistics suggest that the draw is not vital from the Mile start. In the 52 races run over the course in the past five seasons, barriers two and four have been most successful with seven wins apiece. However, 11 winners in the same time have come from barriers 13 and 14.