Contrasting barrier draws for two of the country’s fastest horses, Buffering and Lankan Rupee, could pose a tactical conundrum in Saturday’s Group One Darley Classic at Flemington.
The pair has the potential to split the straight-track race into two divisions, or bring the elite field thundering together down the centre of the track.
Any bias towards the inside or outside and one of them might find themselves on a diagonal beeline to find the front.
It’s a puzzling picture and Joe Pride, trainer of Darley Classic contender Terravista, is relieved he can hedge his bets from a midfield draw.
“I’m glad we’re not committed to inside or out, we can come up the centre of the track where you generally want to be, up the guts of the track, and hopefully find something to trail into the race,” Pride said.
Terravista came to Melbourne amid much fanfare.
Brilliant wins in successive Group races in Sydney preceded a narrowly beaten fifth to Lankan Rupee in a rough-house Manikato Stakes.
The horse lost nothing in Pride’s eyes and his newness to straight racing doesn’t bother his trainer.
“What happened around Moonee Valley the other night beat him more than the track,” Pride said.
“If he got around there without the interference I think he would have handled Moonee Valley pretty well.
“When he gets to the wide-open spaces (of Flemington), he’s a big-striding horse so I think he’ll enjoy that.”
Pride is a control freak with his horses.
He gives them pet names, is a hands-on trainer and prefers they are nearby.
Not wanting to leave anything to chance, Pride sent Terravista home to Sydney after the Manikato and the horse won’t arrive in Melbourne until Friday.
“I’d rather be looking at him every day,” he said.
Terravista is at $12 with Chautauqua, a stunning winner of his past two starts down the straight, favoured to bring that form to the Group One arena.
Chautauqua is at $2.25 with only Lankan Rupee ($5.50) and Irish visitor Slade Power ($7) also under double figures.
International horses have won Australia’s three biggest staying races this spring and their dominance will be complete if Slade Power can win the carnival’s major sprint.
