A horror barrier draw might have dampened confidence about Skyhook’s chances in the Fred Best Classic at Eagle Farm – but only marginally.
In a race that will gift the winner an automatic start in the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m), the Group 3 sprint has attracted a deep field led by Grafterburners, Beadman, Sixties, Wodeton and Brave Monarch.
Of that group, the latter is the only horse to have drawn a single-figure alley and Skyhook’s co-trainer Sterling Alexiou is hoping that helps negate his three-year-old’s draw in barrier 23.
“It’s not ideal, the gate, but the horse is going incredibly well,” Alexiou said.
“Quite a few of the main chances are drawn out with us, so that fills us with a bit of confidence that if he can follow some of them across, Josh (Parr) can get him into a nice spot and hopefully he can present like the winner at some stage.
“He’s going well enough to win a race like that, even from an ordinary barrier.”
Further boosting the stable’s confidence is Skyhook’s liking for wet ground.
The colt won the Listed Rosebud (1100m) on a heavy 8 surface in the spring and Alexiou says he has thrived since returning to the winner’s list in the Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) last start.
Josh Parr was aboard for his latest success and having partnered him to a subsequent barrier trial win at Gosford, the top jockey was so keen to continue the association he committed to travelling to Queensland for the one ride – his only other booking, Von Hauke, is an emergency for the Kingsford Smith Cup and no certainty to run.
“He was really, really happy with his trial the other day at Gosford . . . and he was very happy to go up,” Alexiou said of Parr.
“We went to Queensland with the idea of running in the Stradbroke. The horse is going to have to win Saturday to go there, but he’s going great, and a wet track won’t worry him. He’s very adept on a wet track.”
Eagle Farm was rated a heavy 8 on Thursday.