Cassidy upbeat despite barrier

GLENCADAM Gold’s horror barrier draw didn’t have any impact on champion jockey Jim Cassidy’s trademark confidence ahead of the Caulfield Cup on Saturday.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained imported stayer will come out of barrier 17 in the big race, with only last year’s Melbourne Cup winner, Dunaden, drawn wider.

Despite the wide barrier, Glencadam Gold retains Caulfield Cup favouritism, although he has eased from $3.70 to $4.20 with TAB.

‘‘To me, it is only a number,’’ Cassidy said. ‘‘Barrier draws and the weather I’ve never worried about as I have no control over them.

‘‘Glencadam Gold’s plusses are he is trained by Gai and will be ridden by me!’’

Cassidy, a two-time Caulfield Cup winner on Might And Power (1997) and Diatribe (2000), felt the wide draw may actually assist rather than hinder Glencadam Gold’s chances.

‘‘There always seems to be pace to the first corner in a Caulfield Cup and if you are drawn inside, there is always a chance you could get jammed up on the fence from those horses coming over from out wide,’’ he said.

‘‘From that barrier, I will be able to come over when I please. It is important around Caulfield to get as close to the rail as possible, especially before you get around the back of the course and go up the hill.

‘‘I’ll sit down with Gai and work out our tactics but I will have to have Plan A, Band C.’’

The last horse to win the 2400m cup from gate 17 was Let’s Elope in 1991.

Peter Moody, trainer of cup runners Voila Ici, Lights Of Heaven and Sneak A Peek, also felt the outside barriers for noted leaders like Voila Ici and Glencadam Gold were ‘‘not too much of a disadvantage’’.

‘‘There doesn’t appear to be a lot of speed drawn under them that will hold them out. You will probably find them one-two after 150m without expending too much effort.’’