Srikandi draws wide in capacity BTC Cup field

Glamour mare Srikandi will have to overcome a wide barrier draw if she is to collect her first Group 1 trophy in the weight for age $500,000 UBET BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday.

Srikandi has to overcome a wide barrier in the BTC Cup at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Srikandi has to overcome a wide barrier in the BTC Cup at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.

The Ciaron Maher trained Srikandi had the luxury of jumping from  the inside gate when an effortless first up winner in the Group 2 $200,000 SMEG Victory Stakes (1200m) at the Gold Coast on April 25 with Damian Browne aboard.

But from barrier eleven in the sixteen horse BTC Cup field Browne will be looking for a bit of early luck in the run to the first corner to secure some cover for the classy chestnut mare.

The ‘Rockhampton Rocket’ Our Boy Malachi has drawn better at seven and jockey Tommy Berry is certain to get the six year old into a handy position heading into the first turn.

Our Boy Malachi is a winner of seventeen races from nineteen starts including his last four under the care of Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes at Rosehill.

Team Hawkes will also saddle up Gold Coast Guineas winner Nostradamus who has drawn the outside of the field.

Trainer Darren Weir is willing to forgive Trust In A Gust for his first up defeat when second to Red Bomber in the $150,000 VOBIS Gold Sprint (1200m) at Caulfield on April 18.

Trust In A Gust gets his chance to win his third Group 1 race from barrier three with Bard Rawiller in the saddle again.

Rawiller was aboard Trust In A Gust when he won the $400,000 David Jones NBCF Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield, the second of his Group 1 winning double during the 2014 Melbourne Spring Carnival.

At his previous start Damian Lane steered him to a narrow win over Dissident in the Group 1 $400,000 Bendigo Bank East Malvern Sir Rupert Clarke Charity Cup (1400m) also at Caulfield.

Dual Group 1 winning Kiwi sprinter Sacred Star has drawn midfield at barrier eight with local premiership winning jockey Tim Bell taking the ride.

The Tony Pike trained five year old is resuming from a short break and the Cambridge trainer is hoping he can repeat the form that saw him win the Group 1 NZ$250,000 JR & N Berkett Telegraph Handicap (1200m) at Trentham and the Group 1 NZ$200,000 NRM Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa over the Summer.

Brisbane leading trainer Tony Gollan has Temple Of Boom going around with Tegan Harrison from barrier six while Peter Moody is hoping Bring Me The Maid can breakthrough for her first Group 1 win with Chad Schofield from gate ten.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.