Simon Zahra admits his confidence in Sword Of Light ahead of the Blue Diamond Prelude has been dealt a blow by the barrier draw.
Zahra, who trains in partnership with Mathew Ellerton, says the filly could not be in better shape ahead of her Group Two assignment at Caulfield on Saturday.
Sword Of Light
But Zahra could not hide his disappointment after Sword Of Light drew the outside barrier in the 13-horse field.
“Everything was good until I saw the barrier draw,” Zahra said.
“I think she’s come on a bit, both mentally as well as physically.”
Sword Of Light made a winning debut at Echuca on December 17 before taking the fillies division of the Blue Diamond Preview at Caulfield on January 26 under Damian Lane.
In between she missed a start at Flemington on January 1 because of her behaviour.
She was stirred up in the parade ring and mood carried over to the barriers where she reared up in the gates and was scratched.
One advantage of barrier 13 is that Sword Of Light will be one of the last loaded, but Zahra says the filly’s manners have improved.
“I think her barrier manners are OK but you’d rather be drawn three or four and doing no work,” Zahra said.
“We’ll just have to leave it up to Damian where she ends up.”
Sword Of Light has met with some support firming from $7.50 to $6.50 while victory on Saturday may entice her owners to pay a $55,000 late entry fee to run in the $1.5 million Blue Diamond Stakes on February 27.
