Good barriers will enhanced the chances of Comin’ Through and Omei Sword but trainer Chris Waller knows that Tom Melbourne will need plenty of luck from his wide gate in the Group 1 $500,000 United Petroleum Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Comin’ Through, above, has drawn an inside barrier in the Toorak Handicap at Caulfield. Photo by Steve Hart.
Professional placegetter Tom Melbourne has finished in the runner’s up stall at his last four starts and Waller can see that the seven year old has a tough task in front of him from another wide gate.
Tom Melbourne ran a brave race last start from barrier nine in the ten horse field when second to Happy Clapper in the Group 1 $1m Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on September 30 and will jump from gate fourteen if the emergency fails to gain a start with Glen Boss in the saddle again.
“A bad draw. He drew bad in the Epsom and it probably cost him winning, take nothing away from Happy Clapper, he is a great horse but I think Happy Clapper drew four and Tom Melbourne drew twelve or thirteen,” Waller said.
“Glen Boss aboard, he knows the horse well. He is not an easy horse to ride, that’s the concern.”
“I guess he will just come back and get some cover and attack late.”
Egg Tart with Damien Oliver in the saddle, has drawn in the middle of the field at barrier nine in the eighteen horse field and Waller said that the Sebring mare has fully recovered from an eye injury that prevented her from running in the Epsom Handicap.
“She is going well. Couldn’t race in the Epsom because she had a sore eye,” Waller said.
“Had anti-inflammatory drugs and as soon as she was on them it helped the eye.”
“She has worked well. Galloped at Caulfield on Tuesday morning and got around there very well. Had a good hit out.”
Waller is expecting Comin’ Through to get a better run in the Toorak Handicap from barrier four after he was caught wide for the entire trip from a bad gate when sixth last start in the Epsom Handicap.
Michael Walker replaces Joao Moreira on Comin’ Through and the pair combined for a win two starts back in the Group 3 $150,000 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on September 16.
“Drawn much better. He also drew wide in the Epsom. He was the worst off, he was three wide, no cover the entire trip. So just a victim of circumstances,” Waller said.
“Better draw and I am sure he can race a bit closer and could be a different result.”
Omei Sword with Stephen Baster booked to ride, has also drawn a nice gate at five and with only 52kg on her back, Waller is giving the High Chaparral mare a great chance of breaking through for an initial Group 1 win.
“Omei Sword, she won’t know herself and she has also drawn well which is a big plus for her,” Waller said.
“She can get a nice run and let’s hope she can get close to that Group 1 win.”
Omei Sword is coming off a last start third to Daysee Doom in the Group 2 $400,000 Golden Pendant (1400m) at Rosehill on September 23.
Egg Tart is holding a slight advantage at $5 at the top of the Toorak Handicap market order at Ladbrokes.com.au over the Robert Smerdon trained Theanswermyfriend at $6.50 with Tom Melbourne on the third line of betting at $8.
Comin’ Through is also in contention at $10 just head of his stablemate Omei Sword at $12.
