Bad draw won’t halt Ripper tilt

The record of drawing wide barriers in big races has enhanced for Sold For Song but her alley for Saturday’s Group Two Dane Ripper may not be as bad as first expected.

Sold For Song ran third in the Group Three Glenlogan Park Stakes at Eagle Farm on May 27 after jumping from barrier five in a rare start from a decent barrier in a black type race.

The Toowoomba mare’s three previous runs were from barriers 12-14 and she was unplaced in those three starts.

Sold For Song has drawn barrier 17 for Saturday’s $200,000 Group Two Bundaberg Rum Dane Ripper Stakes (1350m) at Doomben and is also a dual acceptor in the $100,000 Listed Radiotab The Wayne Wilson (1600m).

The four-year-old has drawn much closer to the fence in The Wayne Wilson after securing barrier seven.

Toowoomba trainer Kevin Kemp says Sold For Song will tackle the Dane Ripper though as she could end up jumping from barrier 13 or better on Saturday with jockey James Orman on board.

“We’re going to run her in the Dane Ripper. I believe there is two already scratched and there could be two more,” Kemp said.

“She’ll be right. She’ll get back and ride for luck.”

Kemp will be hoping there are more scratchings in the $350,000 Group Two Ascot Green Queensland Guineas (1600m) in order to have another runner on Stradbroke Handicap Day.

Promising gelding Chief Joseph is coming of a win at Clifford Park on May 27 and is listed as second emergency for the Guineas.

Fellow Toowoomba trainers Steve Tregea and John Zielke have runners in the Guineas and they could feature heavily.

Tregea stable star Niccanova has won four of his five career runs and will be joined by stablemate Rhyming, while Zielke has accepted with Toowoomba Guineas winner Dreams Aplenty.