Rotten luck at the barrier draw has cut Chris Waller’s Tramway Handicap assault by one, leaving talented pair Triple Elegance and Syreon to fly the flag.
Waller said Pressday would be scratched after coming up with barrier 18 in the field of 16 plus four emergencies for the Group Three feature over 1400m.
Syreon (14) and Triple Elegance (16) also drew awkwardly but Waller said they were better able to adapt.
“Syreon’s wide draw won’t really affect him too much, he can sit deep,” Waller said.
“But Pressday won’t run, I’ll probably save him for the following week (Sebring Sprint).”
Syreon was a revelation in the autumn when he won the Group Three Queen’s Cup (2000m) and finished third to stablemate My Kingdom of Fife in the Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).
He didn’t make an impact first-up in the Starlight Stakes (1100m), failing to beat a runner home.
Pressday also resumed in that race and finished out of the placings and Waller elected to give both subsequent barrier trials.
“It was a bit of a nothing race in that nothing made up ground,” Waller said.
“I wanted a bit more fitness in them and to take the edge off them both slightly because they both raced a bit keen that day.
“A trial is like three gallops so you can get the work into them without them really knowing.”
Triple Elegance also stepped up to the plate in the autumn with a Group One placing in the George Ryder Stakes and the promise of a potentially lucrative spring ahead.
But his two starts this campaign have been unremarkable, including his 11th of 12 runners in the Warwick Stakes (1400m).
That was on a heavy track and Waller said Triple Elegance needed a firm surface to show his best.
He will get that on Saturday but with 58kg up against the likes of Secret Admirer on just 53.5kg – and barrier one to boot – Waller knows it will be a tough task.
“It’s a good race and with that weight he will need to be at his best to beat them,” Waller said.
“But his work has been good and I’m confident he can bounce back and run a better race on a better track.”
Group One winners Secret Admirer ($4) and Sincero ($4.60) headed betting on Friday with Triple Elegance at $16 and Syreon $26.
AAP TURF
