THREE CHEERS
The Inevitable gets the ideal draw for Eagle tilt
Mercury racing writer
PETER STAPLES
STAR Tasmanian four-yearold The Inevitable could not have drawn a better barrier for Saturday’s $7.5 million Golden Eagle over 1500m at Rosehill.
The gelding’s trainer Scott Brunton attended the barrier draw on Sydney Harbour and came up with gate three.
“I was really nervous about being the one responsible for drawing the barrier, but coming up with gate three is sensational,” Brunton said. “The horse is in great shape and the only thing that could have put a dampener on things was a bad gate. But it’s worked out perfectly, so I am looking forward to Saturday with a great deal more confidence.”
While The Inevitable drew an ideal barrier, the favourite Brutal will have to contend with the outside gate in a field of 17, to which bookmakers acted swiftly by easing his price out from $4 to $4.80.
The Chris Waller-trained Arcadia Queen, which drew gate five, has shortened from $5 to $3.80. The Inevitable’s price before the barrier draw was $8.50 but surprisingly the perfect draw has not caused his price to shorten.
“I would have thought drawing the perfect gate would have shortened him up in the market, but we have no control over how bookmakers assess our horses,” Brunton said.
The Inevitable has won all three starts this preparation, his latest in the $500,000 Silver Eagle at Randwick just over two weeks ago at what was his first start the Sydney way of going.
At his previous start he scored by four lengths from the James Cummings-trained Deprive, which defeated Brutal at Randwick the same day that The Inevitable won the Silver Eagle.
The Inevitable has been at Waratah Thoroughbreds at Moss Vale during his stay in NSW, a property Brunton described as “horse heaven”.
“I couldn’t believe my eyes when I first arrived here and I think that’s one of the reasons why the horse has done so well.
“It’s quiet, just like he has it at home and the training facilities are first-class.”
Brunton took The Inevitable to Goulburn last Thursday for a track gallop and he walked away confident he has the horse exactly where he needs to be to run the race of his life on Saturday.
“I gave him a dash up the hill where we are staying at Moss Vale this morning and he did it well within himself, so that will be enough for him until race day,” he said.
“He’ll go through his normal routine up until race day, but I couldn’t be happier with the horse.”
The Inevitable has been referred to as the “pocket rocket” because of his stature.
“There mightn’t be much of him height-wise, but he has an incredible motor inside and he takes a surprisingly big stride for a little horse and that’s something that impressed rider Nash Rawiller who rode him in the Silver Eagle.”
Rawiller has retained the ride and the top NSW hoop chose him over the Les Bridgetrained Classique Legend — a $7 chance in the race.
The Inevitable has won eight of 10 starts for almost $700,000 in stakes. If he wins on Saturday it will rocket his earnings closer to $5 million.