John Wheeler gave himself a decent chance of winning the Wellington Cup with Medit King - until midday on Wednesday.
Wheeler is now resigned to the fact that Medit King's No 24 barrier draw - he'll start from No 18 - has torpedoed his chances.
"I thought if he'd drawn
in he could have ambled out and found a nice spot without having to be used. From out there he's going to have to do some work to get across."
Medit King has won six races and $207,816 since coming back from an unsuccessful time in Hong Kong.
He has a solid one-pace style that could see him figure in a race like a Wellington Cup.
"Michael Coleman has been very keen on the horse's chances all along and he's wanted to stay with him right through.
"He feels that he'll go along at his pace all day, so, maybe the horse is still some hope from his wide draw, even though I've half written him off."
Frank Ritchie believes he has Gorgeous George at least as well as when he pushed Zabeat to a close photo finish in last year's Wellington Cup.
Ritchie was heartened by Gorgeous George's grinding second to Dimondontheinside on the second day of the meeting on Monday.
There is a fair amount of speed in the race and where Lee Tiley is able to position Gorgeous George will have a big bearing.
"Obviously he is better with a lead on his own, but if they go fairly hard he'd take a sit," said Ritchie.
Sing In The Sun is the interesting runner. She has plenty of ability, but is totally unknown at distances even approaching 3200m.
The Cambridge mare looked unlucky at Awapuni last start and if Lisa Allpress can find her an economical passage from a slightly awkward barrier draw, she could sprint at the leaders with dangerous speed in the closing stages.
Kajema has been luckless in his last four starts and is a serious danger if the breaks finally go his way.
