Poor draw might keep Warhorse out of trouble - Bridgman

Jason Bridgman says Warhorse (NZ) (General Nediym) drawing barrier 15 for Sunday night's NZ$1 million Restricted Listed Karaka Million might not be as bad as it seems.

The Matamata trainer was searching for a silver lining after the last-start Group Three Eclipse Stakes favourite drew wide for New Zealand's richest race.

Jason Bridgman

In spite of the unfavourable barrier, TAB bookmakers opened General Nediym colt Warhorse (NZ) as a A$5.50 favourite for the 1200m two-year-old showpiece, which is restricted to horses sold at last year's Karaka yearling sales

"It's not ideal but you've just got to make a positive out of it,'' Bridgman said yesterday.

"In a two-year-old race like this, there will be a lot of early pressure. Our horse doesn't have blistering gate speed and he tends to find himself midfield anyway.

"It won't be the worst draw for him. It can be a roughly run race and at least from that draw we might be able to stay out of trouble. Vincent Mangano drew the outside the year he won it.''

Vincent Mangano (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) won the inaugural Karaka Million in 2008 from barrier 14 but since then no horse drawn outside barrier two has been successful.

The Heckler (Lucky Owners) won from barrier two in 2009 and both 2010 winner Sister Havana (NZ) (General Nediym) and last year's victor Fort Lincoln (Charge Forward) drew barrier one.

Warhorse (NZ) will start from the outside of the 14-horse field unless there are two scratchings and second ballot Lady de Chine (Fastnet Rock) gets a run, in which case he will start from barrier 13.

Ridden by Nash Rawiller, Warhorse (NZ) cleared maiden grade with his decisive 2 1/2-length Eclipse Stakes win but with Rawiller suspended, stable rider Matt Cameron takes the ride on Sunday.

Cameron currently leads the New Zealand jockeys' premiership but he could be entitled to feeling a little overwhelmed ahead of Sunday's race with six Australian-based riders among his rivals, including big names such as Craig Williams, Damien Oliver, Corey Brown, Hugh Bowman and former champion Kiwi jockey Michael Walker.

The Karaka Million has so far proved an elusive race for the all-conquering Te Akau Stables with eight runners coming up short so far.

Noble Manor (NZ) (Stravinsky) was a desperately unlucky fourth behind Vincent Mangano (NZ) with Nuke Time (NZ) (Choisir) (10th) and Sir Invincible (Invincible Spirit) (11th) further back.

Corsage (NZ) (Volksraad) was fifth the following year, beating home King's Ransom (NZ) (King’s Chapel) (11th) and Numero De Lago (Encosta de Lago) (12th), while Icepin (NZ) (Pins) came closest to success when he was second to Sister Havana (NZ), with favourite Big River (NZ) (General Nediym) a disappointing eighth.

The stable did not have a runner last year.

"It's been an unlucky race for Te Akau. We've been close on a few occasions,'' Bridgman said.

We don't have strength in numbers this year but we've got a got a good candidate in Warhorse (NZ).

"His form is good. It probably wasn't an overly strong Eclipse Stakes but he's done nothing wrong. The form out of his maiden run has held up well and he's kept progressing. He's good enough if he gets the right run.

"It's going to be very competitive. There's plenty of form in there - a lot of winners and the form is coming from everywhere. It's pretty even and I'd say anything can win it.

"We'll take our chance - $1 million, you've got to have a go and I'm looking forward to it. I'm confident the horse is well. We just hope we can get a good run and some luck.''

Several of the favoured runners drew wide for the Karaka Million, including the horse that defeated Warhorse on debut, the Keith and Brendon Hawtin-trained Silk Pins (NZ) (Pins).

Silk Pins (NZ) ran a luckless second to Travino (General Nediym) next-up in the Listed Murdoch Newell Stakes at Pukekohe then got too far back and was unsuited by the rain-affected track conditions when sixth in Warhorse's Eclipse Stakes last start.

Te Awamutu trainer Keith Hawtin said Hugh Bowman would probably have to ride for luck from barrier 14 but he was no conceding defeat just yet.

"She's better chasing anyway but you can't do anything about the draws,'' Hawtin said.

"Hughie's on her and he'll know what to do. She showed at Counties that she can chase hard. We're 100 per cent happy with her and it's not about how much luck we get in running.''

Karaka Million market: $5.50 Warhorse (NZ); $6.50 Freedom (NZ), Sell In May (NZ); $7 Ockham's Razor (NZ); $8 Mai Guru (NZ), Green Wings; $9 Choice Bro; $16 Silk Pins (NZ), Taoist Master (NZ); $18 Silver City, Magic Shaft; $21 Lady de Chine; $26 Marechal (NZ), Hogwarts Express (NZ); $31 Deakes; $41 Dreamcoat (NZ).

Aidan Rodley – Waikato Times