Barrier draws have gone against Zero Rock over the Brisbane winter and trainer Kelso Wood is sweating on a change of fortune for Saturday’s Tattersall’s Tiara.
Wood rates Zero Rock, a placegetter at her past three starts in feature races including the Stradbroke Handicap, one of the main chances for the final Group One of the season in Australia.
The Brisbane trainer just hopes Zero Rock’s prospects are not dented by a wide gate at Wednesday morning’s all-important draw for the fillies and mares feature.
“I’m thrilled with the way she’s been going but it could have been better with any luck with barriers,” Wood said of the five-year-old’s winter campaign.
On-pacer Zero Rock was runner-up in both the Group Three Glenlogan Park Stakes (1350m) and Group Two Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) before her last start third in the $1 million Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).
She has not jumped from inside barrier 10 in any of her past three outings.
“She should have won one and maybe even all three of them had she drawn a better barrier,” Wood said.
“It’s going to be a hard race (on Saturday) and it would be good to have everything in her favour when they are so evenly matched.”
The Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m), formerly the Winter Stakes, has 18 nominations including Doomben 10,000 winner and Stradbroke runner-up Beaded, Dane Ripper Stakes winner Hurtle Myrtle and QTC Cup winner Varenna Miss.
Wood believes the race is one of the most open he’s seen and pointed towards the favourites as the horses to beat.
“Beaded and the horse of Tony Noonan’s (Varenna Miss) goes all right too,” he said.
“But there’s about five or six chances.”
Zero Rock had her final serious workout at Eagle Farm on Tuesday morning but Wood opted not to use the course proper.
“She’s got her routine and I like to stick to it, she gets cranky otherwise,” Wood said.
“Her work was very good.”
Tim Clark partnered Zero Rock to her third behind Sincero and Beaded in the Stradbroke but Chris Munce jumps back aboard on Saturday.
Munce had a prior commitment to Love Conquers All in the Stradbroke.
The Eagle Farm trainer doesn’t believe Zero Rock needs to improve on her recent performances to make her presence felt on Saturday.
“I don’t think so, she just needs a bit of luck in running,” he said.
AAP TURF
