Western Empire will have a couple of things against him in Saturday’s $1.5 million Gold Rush, dealt barrier 15 at Tuesday night’s barrier draw, and also losing regular jockey William Pike who fractured his wrist falling off an electric scooter.
Pike, who won the inaugural Gold Rush aboard The Astrologist in 2022, will be replaced by Melbourne based jockey Billy Egan, who will come into barrier 12 of 16 if the emergencies fail to get a run.
The Grant & Alana Williams trained gelding remains a $3.30 wagering sites favourite for the race after finishing midfield in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).
The move has been for second elect Super Smink who has run in both the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) and Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m), backing up from the latter when ninth, beaten 3.9 lengths by Light Infantry Man on Saturday.
Daniel Morton’s filly drew perfectly in barrier five, likely to come into four after scratchings and will be aiming to go one better than former stablemate Kissonallforcheeks who was beaten narrowly by The Astrologist two years ago.
A dual Group 3 winner over the Ascot 1400m, Super Smink will again be ridden by Chris Parnham and is a $5 chance.
Two other horses remain single figure chances with the Rhys Radford trainer Comfort Me a firm $8 chance despite drawing barrier 18 and the Steve Wolfe trained Rope Them In at $8.50 despite drawing widest in barrier 20.
One of the more intriguing runners in the field is Luke Fernie’s Ripcord, who finished second to Munhamek last year in Damien Oliver’s final race ride.
The four-year-old struggled in three Melbourne runs over the Spring but trialled well recently, giving Fernie the confidence to run.
Ripcord has drawn barrier 19 for recent maiden Group 1 winning jockey Clint Johnston-Porter and is a $19 chance, while the only three-year-old in the field, Wind And The Lion, has been backed in from $51 to $21 with online betting sites after drawing well in barrier six.
