Sistine Demon Can Overcome Wide Gate In The Goodwood

Trainer Andrew Noblet is hopeful that consistent sprinter Sistine Demon can overcome his wide barrier draw when he makes his Group 1 debut in the 2014 The Goodwood at Morphettville on Saturday.

Sistine Demon will follow his usual racing pattern when he jumps from an outside gate in the Group 1 event on Saturday.

Sistine Demon will follow his usual racing pattern when he jumps from an outside gate in the Group 1 event on Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Sistine Demon was favourite for The Goodwood when the final field was announced on Tuesday, but his odds for the 1200 metre event drifted slightly after he drew barrier 20 on Wednesday.

Noblet told Racing Ahead that he was less than impressed when he originally checked which barrier Sistine Demon had drawn for The Goodwood, but after further analysis does not believe that the wide draw completely rules the Excites gelding out of the $500,000 race.

“It looked pretty terrible when I first saw the field and saw the number 20 next to his name,” Noblet said.

“Having a good look at it last night, it might not be as bad as it looks.

“He has tremendous gate speed and he gets into his stride pretty quickly, so we won’t ride him much different and we will see how we go.”

Sistine Demon has complied an amazing record since returning to the races all the way back in October and has won seven of his past seven starts including the Listed Super Saturday Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 8 and the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on April 19.

Noblet said that Sistine Demon had come out of his six lengths romp in the Victoria Handicap in excellent condition and had been given his usual preparation in the lead-up to The Goodwood in Adelaide this weekend.

“He came through that run virtually like he won; he just pulled up so well,” Noblet said.

“He has had a good space between runs, he is dropping back to the 1200, he is in good order and he is nice and fresh.

“He has just followed his normal pattern really and I’ve just shortened up his work a little bit.

“He had a good gallop on the course proper here and we were really happy with the way he went.

“He was nice and bright this morning and he will make the trip over tomorrow night and it is all systems go.

“He will run really well, the barrier draw is a question mark, but if the track plays like it has been then he is one of the chances.”

Noblet is chasing his first win as a trainer at Group 1 level after finishing second in the 2012 edition of the Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) with Sistine Angel.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.