Draw poses challenge for Derby frontrunners

TONIGHT’S group 1 New Zealand Derby could be a case of not being late for the train.

Tricky draws that will put favoured runners back in the field early in the race mean the positioning of horses in the threewide train later in the $200,000 Addington feature could decide the race winner.

Race favourite Sicario has barrier 9, second favourite Anthem will start from barrier 6 on the second row and third favourite Sheriff will start one spot inside him.

Despite his tricky alley, driver Blair Orange would not swap the Nigel McGrathtrained Sheriff for any other runner in the race.

‘‘It is just going to be where he is going to be three wide in the race and what part of it,’’ Orange said.

‘‘I am confident that he can do the work and still win it. He will stay; he showed that he will get the distance when he was a touch unlucky in the Northern Derby. It will be good race. I wouldn’t swap my drive for anything else.’’

Duplicated (1), Culpeka (2) and Pat’s Delight (4) are among the horses that have fared well in the draw.

Barrier 4 looks the perfect place for Pat’s Delight to use his fast gate speed and get a big head start on the race’s leading chances.

However, even with a good draw, driver Dexter Dunn said his horse was just as at risk of getting into a tricky spot as horses like Sheriff.

‘‘We could end up being handy early and then getting too far back after that and, being a derby, you don’t want to be doing too much work early.

‘‘He has got plenty of gate speed, so we have got to have a wee look, but the onehorse gets out pretty well and I would say the twohorse will as well.’’

Bookmakers have favoured Sicario over his Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussentrained stablemate Anthem, but Purdon told his stable website he saw it the other way.

‘‘Sicario is a very good horse and he is a good stayer and the Derby distance holds no fears for him. But I regard Anthem as the one to beat and possibly our best chance.’’