A wide barrier proved detrimental when Green Birdie had his first start in Melbourne since returning from Hong Kong.
And an inside gate turned out to be almost as bad at his second.
So, for his third run this time in, trainer Tony Vasil has chosen a race in which the barrier draw is almost irrelevant.
A Group One winner in Singapore, Green Birdie runs in Saturday’s Group Three Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) down the Flemington straight course.
“We had no choice but to go right back to last in his first-up run,” Vasil said.
“He ran very well, but it gave him no chance.”
Next time out in the Group Three Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, Green Birdie drew barrier one and was heavily backed.
But he was unsuited by a slow pace and couldn’t get away from the fence to do anything about it.
“It didn’t suit him at all,” Vasil said.
“I think he needs to balance up and come late, but not from last.”
Vasil believes jockey Damien Oliver will have a number of options from barrier two, should be able to get clear running at Flemington and should be able to get clear running when he needs it.
The Aurie’s Star is also shaping as a launch pad for the spring campaign of the well-performed Seville from the Robert Hickmott stable.
While his only win came in a two-year-old race at Tipperary when trained by Aidan O’Brien, Seville was runner-up in the 2011 Irish Derby and also finished second in that year’s Group One Grand Prix de Paris (2400m).
He has had two runs in Australia, the latest an encouraging fourth over 1600m in Adelaide in May.
The Peter Moody-trained Golden Archer was the $2.20 favourite for the Aurie’s Star on Wednesday following his brilliant comeback win at Flemington last month.
Green Birdie was at $7 with Seville ($61) one of the outsiders.
