Darren Weir’s three runners had mixed results at the barrier draw for the final field for the 2018 Group 1 $1m Darley Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday.

Voodoo Lad, above, is one of three Darren Weir trained runners in the 2018 Goodwood at Morphettville. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Voodoo Lad, above, is one of three Darren Weir trained runners in the 2018 Goodwood at Morphettville. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

The best of Weir’s trio, Voodoo Lad with apprentice Ben Allen booked to ride, has drawn the rails in the capacity twenty horse Goodwood field while Luke Currie will have to negotiate the car park after his mount Stellar Collision drew barrier seventeen.

Weir’s third runner, Handsome Thief with Dean Yendall in the saddle, has drawn around the middle of the pack at gate twelve.

Weir has nominated first up specialist Voodoo Lad as his best chance at his first race start since running fifth to She Will Reign in the Group 1 $500,000 Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley during the 20117 Melbourne Spring Carnival in September.

Voodoo Lad’s first up record is outstanding with four wins and two seconds from six first up attempts.

“He’s the best rated of my three going in,” Weir told racing.com.

“He’s in great form and is always good fresh.”

“We couldn’t have him in any better order going in for his first run, but obviously it’s a very tough race.”

“He’s been right up there for a number of years and certainly deserves a Group 1 to his name.”

Weir is also expecting his other two runners, Handsome Thief and Stellar Collision, to perform well after they ran the quinella in the Listed $150,000 Midfield Group Wangoom Handicap (1200m) at Warrnambool on May 2.

“But the other two were impressive in Warrnambool and Stellar Collision should benefit from a lighter weight,” Weir said.

The Lindsay Park Team of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig will also have multiple Goodwood runners with Vega Magic and Thronum.

Vega Magic is looking to make it back to back wins in the Goodwood after claiming the race last year at his first start for the Lindsay Park Team with Craig Williams in the saddle.

Damien Oliver takes the ride this year on the former Western Australian trained five year old who will jump from barrier fourteen carrying the top weight of 59kg.

Lindsay Park’s other runner Thronum was a late scratching from last Saturday’s Group 1 $700,000 Kirin Doomben 10,000 (1200m) at Doomben after hitting his head in the tie up stalls just prior to getting saddled up and has drawn barrier five with Tim Clark booked to ride.

The Mick Price trained Secret Agenda was also out of luck at the barrier draw, coming up gate nineteen for Dwayne Dunn.

Secret Agenda finished fourth to Vega Magic in last year’s Goodwood and heads into this year’s edition on the back of a last start second to Shoals in the Group 1 $1m Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on May 5.

The local hope Viddora has drawn barrier eleven with regular rider Joe Bowditch in the saddle.

Final field for the 2018 Goodwood (1200m)

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Hcp Rating
1 1x1x11257x VEGA MAGIC David & B Hayes & T Dabernig Damien Oliver 14 59kg 114
2 5x341x6x03 SANTA ANA LANE Anthony Freedman Ben Melham 9 58.5kg 106
3 06x13x1402 THRONUM David & B Hayes & T Dabernig Tim Clark 5 57kg 106
4 x5114x1932 SECRET AGENDA Mick Price Dwayne Dunn 19 56.5kg 111
5 212x2411x2 VIDDORA Lloyd Kennewell Joe Bowditch 11 56.5kg 110
6 0x257x145x VOODOO LAD Darren Weir Ben Allen (a) 1 56.5kg 108
7 3613413015 FERRANDO (NZ) Graeme Rogerson Stephen Baster 2 56kg 97
8 80x188x1x0 SUPER CASH Andrew Noblet Jamie Kah 7 55.5kg 108
9 8×61321212 STELLAR COLLISION Darren Weir Luke Currie 17 55.5kg 103
10 1x115x4383 VIRIDINE James Cummings Regan Bayliss 20 55.5kg 100
11 111613×641 STEEL FROST Will Clarken Todd Pannell 8 55.5kg 97
12 292117×898 LOPE DE CAPIO Wayne Francis & Glen Kent 15 55.5kg 95
13 x4408x4205 FLAMBERGE Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra Damian Lane 4 54.5kg 108
14 31×3272161 HANDSOME THIEF (IRE) Darren Weir Dean Yendall 12 54.5kg 96
15 1419×92158 OVERSHARE Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes James Winks 16 54.5kg 86
16 x111027512 EXALTED ADAM Grant Young Clare Lindop 13 54.5kg 78
17 974628×851 I’LL HAVE A BIT John McArdle Chris Parnham 3 53.5kg 94
18 449729×378 MISSROCK Robbie Laing Ben Thompson 6 52.5kg 106
19 672171×123 MICA LIL Mark Minervini Damien Thornton 10 52.5kg 82
20 1333×10276 NIPPERKIN Barry Brook Krystal Bishop 18 52.5kg 78

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.