Racing: Wide draw against Franco Emirate

Jim Curtin. Photo / Dean Purcell

The trainer of New Zealand's most exciting pacer believes the barrier draw conditions for Saturday's Harness Jewels are unfair.

Jim Curtin says that is not just because his superstar pacer Franco Emirate has drawn the outside of the front line in Saturday's 4-year-old male pace at Ashburton.

Franco Emirate is, surprisingly, the $2.80 favourite for the toughest race at the Jewels, even though he has the worst draw in what is virtually an open-class field.

Curtin realises he will have to go back to near last to get into the running line and can see the Messenger winner facing the same problem he did in the Taylor Mile two starts ago.

"We went back then, got into the three-wide line and he just sat there going nowhere," said Curtin.

"It was a non-race for him and I can see the same happening again this week. Really, from nine, he is going to need a miracle to win and I just can't see it happening."

The Jewels races are conducted under the usual conditions of the host track but the configuration of nine off the front line and three off the second line seems extremely harsh on those drawn wide.

While a 2-year-old trotter might be able to overcome such a disadvantage in a field that will break open, Franco Emirate faces covering at least five more lengths than stars like Gomeo Romeo and Pure Power, who are well capable of a sub 1:52 mile.

"I actually thought it was eight off the front line and four off the second, which is what it should be," said Curtin.

"Really, from nine, at the mile start point there, where you can't go forward, you have no chance."

Curtin's comments and common sense should see Franco Emirate be one of the big betting drifters this week, with both Pure Power and Gomeo Romeo certain to come in for a support because of their draws.

While Curtin's other key Jewels drive, Terror To Love, has drawn much better at barrier four, his driver says it is still not ideal.

"Four is good but having Gold Ace at barrier three isn't," laughed Curtin in reference to his arch rival.

"Gold Ace probably has more gate speed than my horse so he looks certain to lead and I don't think we can sit parked outside him and beat him.

"There isn't much between them but the advantage is all his now."

Gold Ace is rated a $2 chance in opening markets but is unlikely to pay that on the day as Terror To Love will certainly drift from his $2.20 quote.

Waikato trotter Chocolate Brownie is out of the Jewels with soreness and his place in the 4-year-old trot has been taken by Taimate Boyz.

Meanwhile, a former Jewels sensation in Muscle And Power returns to racing at the lowest possible grade at Cambridge today.

Muscle And Power won the 2-year-old at the Jewels three years ago but later lost the race through retrospective testing for DMSO, the same drug Smoken Up tested positive for in the Interdominion Final last month.

He broke down late as a 2-year-old and has not raced for nearly three years. If he was anywhere near his best and sound for today's maiden trot he would win by a large margin but after so long off the scene punters should be cautious about taking silly odds.