The Lee and Anthony Freedman trained Cool Chap has drawn the extreme outside barrier in the 2016 Group 1 $500,000 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Cool Chap has drawn the outside barrier in the South Australian Derby at Morphettville. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Cool Chap will need plenty of luck in the early and middle stages after drawing barrier seventeen in the final sixteen horse field plus one emergency.
The Freedman brothers are also looking for a new jockey after Daniel Stackhouse, who was booked to take the ride in the South Australian Derby, was suspended for ten meetings for careless riding from the Ballarat meeting last Sunday.
Cool Chap was considered one of the top chances before the barrier draw after scoring a solid win last start in the Listed $200,000 VRC St Leger (2800m) at Flemington on April 25.
The early favourite Charlevoix has drawn barrier eleven but will come in one spot if the emergency Dropped, who drew ten, doesn’t gain a start.
Mark Zahra takes over from the injured Luke Nolen on the Mick Kent trained colt who heads to the South Australian Derby on the back of a stylish win in the Listed $150,000 Ladbrokes Galilee Series Final (2400m) at Sandown on April 9.
The in-form Darren Weir trained Howard Be Thy Name has drawn nicely at barrier six with John Allen to ride.
Howard Be Thy Name is the winner of his last three starts with Allen in the saddle two runs back when he took out the Listed $100,000 Marsh Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m) at Morphettville on April 16.
Brad Rawiller held the reins in his other two wins in a 1600m BenchMark 70 Handicap at Pakenham on March 31 and in his latest win in the Group 3 $120,000 Chairman’s Stakes (2020m) at Morphettville on April 30.
Tarquin and Etymology will both carry the Godolphin royal blue colours and the John O’Shea trained pair will need some luck from their barriers.
Craig Williams has retained the mount the Tarquin, barrier seven, after the pair combined to win a 2000m BenchMark 90 Handicap at Caulfield on April 30 while Ben Melham takes over from Williams on Etymology, barrier twelve, after the colt ran second to Cool Chap in the VRC St Leger.
The Lindsay Park Team off David Hayes and Tom Dabernig will saddle up two runners in the South Australian Derby, Bullish Stock and Sacred Eye.
Bullish Stock has drawn the inside gate with Matthew Neilson taking over from Dwayne Dunn who was aboard the three year old at his latest start when third behind Cool Chap and Etymology in the VRC St Leger.
Sacred Eye is set to back up after finishing fourth to Abbey Marie in the Group 1 $400,000 Schweppes Oaks (registered as Australasian Oaks) (2000m) at Morphettville last Saturday and the High Chaparral filly has drawn nicely at barrier five with Stephen Baster to ride.
Perth fillies Arcadia Dream and First Impressions are also backing up in the South Australian Derby after finishing fifth and eighth respectively in the Australasian Oaks.
Harry Coffey takes the ride on Arcadia Dream who drew awkwardly at fifteen while First Impressions drew slightly better at nine with Glenn Smith retaining the mount.
