Wide barrier draws for Mahisara have become a recurring nightmare for trainer Paul Messara.
The four-year-old stallion came up with gate 18 for Saturday’s Group Three BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben.
Messara was shattered when he learned of Mahisara’s barrier, the fourth time in a row he has been allocated a double figure alley this campaign.
“It’s very hard to win from out there at Doomben and I’m extremely frustrated to say the least,” Messara said.
“The horse is ready to win but he can’t get a decent alley. He drew 16 originally at the Gold Coast and now 18 at Doomben which makes his job virtually impossible.”
Saturday week’s Doomben 10,000 isn’t a fallback option for Messara who didn’t pay up for the four-year-old when first acceptances were taken for the Group One sprint on Wednesday.
“Realistically he’s better off in these handicaps than he would be at weight-for-age,” he said.
Mahisara’s barrier wasn’t the only source of angst for Messara after the four-year-old was listed as first emergency.
However his concerns on that front were eased when Anthony Cummings scratched Fontelina who will be reserved for the 10,000.
Mahisara’s wide barrier gives jockey Jim Cassidy little option apart from riding him vigorously from the outset, according to Messara.
He is concerned the four-year-old will have another “gut-buster” as he did in the Prime Minister’s Cup at the Gold Coast on May 4 when he finished fourth to Famous Seamus.
“My worry is that he’ll get gassed and run out of legs with 50 yards to go,” he said.
“People underestimate what a difference barriers make in races. It’s critical to the outcome.”
Messara has taken blinkers off Mahisara who will race in winkers for the first time at Doomben.
