There’s plenty to ponder for the key players in Saturday night’s Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup after today’s barrier draw, which drew heavy hitters Tiger Tara (gate 2) and Chicago Bull (gate 3) in prime seats for a front running.
Trainer David Aiken’s pair, Im The Boss (gate 4) and Wrappers Delight (gate 7), are also well attuned to doing the bullocking work out front but the quality drawn inside them has required a formiddable rethink for the Avenel stable.
Aiken spoke with thetrots.com.au at today’s Angelique Club Lunch and Barrier Draw.
Q: Let’s start with Im The Boss from four, drawn outside Chicago Bull. Gotta Go Ya Hu probably hands up to Tiger Tara. It’s tricky isn’t it?
A: “It’s a really tricky draw. There’s that much speed off the front, with Tiger Tara and Chicago Bull drawn 2 and 3, Franco Nelson (gate 6) is quick out. It’s actually tough to work out what it’s going to look like. There’s going to be plenty of early speed – the lead time will be very quick. Probably horses caught out a little wider than they’d like, only because those two real good horses have drawn 2 and 3.”
Would Chicago Bull allow Im The Boss to get to the breeze and give it that early cover?
“I don’t think so, I don’t know. It’s one of those races where they drive (Chicago Bull) aggressively and they are not afraid to park horses out, he did it with Lazarus and if you can do it with Lazarus you can do it with any horse.
“Franco Nelson does come out very quick, it would probably help the race if he could cross a Chicago Bull, and then he’d have to make a decision what he’s going to do.
“My horses are in a little bit of no man’s land I think. Wrappers Delight will probably have to come out and see if he can slot in early, I can just see him drifting back if he couldn’t and just waiting for a ride home.”
We haven’t seen Wrappers sit for some time.
“Not really because he’s been one of the dominant horses and he’s drawn OK. In the four-year-old Breeders Crown and four-year-olds sires (Vicbred Super Series) there were only a few main chances. He’s able to find his way to the breeze and be driven like the best horse. This race has sort of evened everything up a little bit.”
Is he more of a grinder than a speed horse?
“He’s got plenty of speed, he’s pretty versatile, it’s just one of those races where I could see if he went forward he would be out there for a long time. It’s a hard one.
“And Im The Boss, he’s stuck in the middle there a little bit. He’s going to have a pretty tough trip.”
Tiger Tara looks the likely leader?
“I think so. (Trainer) Kevin (Pizzuto’s) usually pretty aggressive with his instructions to Toddy (McCarthy). I can see him holding. They’ve got to get past the 1 too, they’ll likely have to work a little bit. I think there’s going to be plenty of power for a fair way.”
Which is good, we’re are going to see a really good race.
“For sure, that’s where you get a genuine race and the best horse generally wins. It’s probably going to bring Shadow Sax (9) into the race, having drawn a very good trailling draw.”
It’s interesting the landscape of the free-for-allers, it’s changed so much hasn’t it?
“Exactly. This race could change 100 times if the draw was different. It’s that type of race.
“And a horse like Shadow Sax, he might be stuck midfield, but if something comes from behind he’s probably got to make a decision probably mid-race. It’s worked out to be a very interesting race.”
Do you think, if there is one that’s shown itself to be a little bit better than the others, then it is Chicago Bull?
“I think he’s the one that’s been there and done that and the more seasoned horse, with Tiger Tara, who’s in the same boat. Chicago Bull, he’s the complete package I think; he’s tough and he’s quick.
“If Lenny was in that race, we’d be able to use him and drive him like the best horse in the race, but a few of these horses have got to have luck on their side.”
Do you think you are going to learn a bit more about your two?
“For sure. Wrappers Delight’s only just started, he’s only a young horse. Im The Boss, whatever he does is a bonus with us now. We are really looking forward to the Inter series with both of them.
“I think they will get through the Inter series three heats good, this is only the first big one of the year and I just hope they get through it good.
“There’s a big step up to this Group 1 from the country cups that Im The Boss has been racing in, it’s going to be a great race. You love having horses in it. We lost Lenny (to stud) last year and Hector last year. At the start of the season you think you might not have runners in these races, but we’ve got two in it which is really good.”
