Racing: Derby favourite lands horror draw but trainer is unfazed

Wahid's trainer Allan Sharrock should have been on edge yesterday and he wasn't.

Taking the favourite into a $600,000 Mercedes Derby is grey hair material.

Drawing barrier No 18 in the country's premier classic with the favourite is no-hair material.

Sharrock quickly rationalised his position and Wahid was the core issue of that. The Taranaki trainer generally underpins much of his comments with a level of confidence, but this was the cutting edge.

"I've never had a horse go into a group one race in such fantastic condition.

"He's simply flying."

Sharrock is totally unconcerned about the barrier draw, which should reduce down to No13 if all the emergencies come out, something that will eventuate barring a breakdown.

"From No13 I can see him in the first 200m somewhere in the first four or five looking for a position."

He's not saying so, but a certain amount of Sharrock's relaxation comes from the fact Wahid coped with pacemaking to win the Waikato Guineas and the Championship Stakes at Ellerslie in his last two starts.

Clearly Sharrock would be happy if Wahid did not have to lead on this occasion in case something either takes charge of its rider or a rival jockey is happy to tackle the favourite in front with a tactical move.

But he knows that option is there for him.

"I'm easy about it, if they dawdle it'll be the same as normal, he'll take it up.

"That'll be Leith's choice."

Yesterday at Te Rapa, Leith Innes was suspended for one day and fined $5000 after Race 1 (see separate story).

Wahid is not the only leading Derby hope to draw badly.

Great Northern Guineas winner Sculptor came out with No20, Black Panther with No19, Chettack No23 and Twinkling, a close third to Wahid in the Championship Stakes, has barrier No22.

TAB bookmakers reacted to the barrier draw by drifting Wahid out from $3.25 to $3.80 and easing Black Panther from $5 to $5.50.

"We've left Congrats at $5 and Abbey Drive at $12," said head bookie Paul Lally.

"Wahid, Black Panther and Congrats are the big three punters want to go for."

The actor in Peter McKenzie came to the fore to prevent some swearing when the Herald advised him yesterday afternoon Sculptor had drawn No20.

He was driving the horse north to Te Rapa at the time and kept a straighter course when he discovered Wahid was only two places inside his horse and Twinkling was outside him.

"It'll make for a very interesting first 300m," said McKenzie.

He wants Sculptor to race handy, which now seems inevitable.

"I was a bit disappointed he didn't race more forward in the Championship Stakes.

"Some jockeys panic a little when they're caught out wide coming up to the bend out of the home straight at Ellerslie, whereas if they sat where they were for perhaps another 50 or 60m they'd get in alright, but that's a decision they have to make under pressure."

Rain would assist the chances of Sculptor, but with only a few showers predicted this side of the race, he is unlikely to get a lot of help in that direction.

Australian jockey Gavin McKeon was to get a feel of Sculptor at Te Rapa this morning.