A poor draw is the only negative trainer David Brideoake can find for Self Sense at Caulfield on Saturday.
The $5 favourite for the Gallagher Bassett VOBIS Gold Mile has drawn the third deepest barrier in the 17-horse field.
The race, restricted to qualified horses, has been target for Self Sense.
“He’s a well-performed horse with a high rating in a set-weights race, so I think it looks pretty right for him,” Brideoake said.
Self Sense is the highest-rated galloper, holding an eight-point class advantage over his nearest rival Written Up and under the race’s conditions carries the same weight.
Brideoake hasn’t been afraid to travel with Self Sense, heading to Randwick where he was narrowly defeated on March 7 before finishing third in the Albury Gold Cup on March 27.
Self Sense will be reunited with Ben Melham.
“Ben rode him from a wide draw to win the Cup at Kilmore which is a more complex circuit than Caulfield,” Brideoake said.
“As far as my confidence is concerned that will depend on what sort of run he gets, but I’m sure he’ll be in it for a long way.”
