Barrier draw good for some
Horse Racing Tips 
/ Sarah Peatling / 14 October 2010 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market
Last year's Melbourne Cup victor, Shocking, drew reasonably well midfield in 12.
Sarah Peatling analyses the Caulfield Cup barrier draw.
The $2.6 million BMW Caulfield Cup barrier draw has delivered some interesting results as connections prepare to snare the world's richest 2400m handicap on Saturday
Last year's Melbourne Cup victor, Shocking, drew reasonably well midfield in 12, and from the outset, Shocking's trainer Mark Kavanagh was pleased with the result.
"I wanted a barrier between six and ten. With the emergencies coming out that puts him into barrier nine".
On Shocking's past race record at Caulfield, Kavanagh said, "He excels at Flemington but he does run good races at Caulfield. He also enjoys the soft ground.
We're confident he'll be around the mark but we have left something in the tank for Melbourne Cup."
Adelaide's Jake Stephens drew the short straw in the Caulfield Cup with promising galloper Alcopop, taking his place in gate 22 (gate 18 if all emergencies come out).
The six-year-old Jeune gelding finished impressively to place second behind Australia's best horse, So You Think, in last Saturday's Yalumba Stakes (2000m).
"It couldn't have got much worse but it's just one of those things, that's racing" said Stephens. "Although the rail could be out...It will be interesting to see what happens and how much speed is on.
Alcopop won on a track rated a slow 7 last year, so should be able to handle the predicted soft ground.
International visitors from the Cumani stable, Manighar and Drunken Sailor have both drawn well in barriers three and four respectively. The chance of third emergency Drunken Sailor running on Saturday is not high, as he is targeted for the Geelong Cup. However, his lightly-raced stable-mate is in it up to his ears, as Sarah Cumani pointed out.
"Manighar is in good shape and is a happy horse. I'd like to see him race forward in sixth position and or at least be in the first half of the field. We've got the right ground and the right horse."
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