Darren Weir’s three runners had mixed results at the barrier draw for the final field for the 2018 Group 1 $1m Darley Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Voodoo Lad, above, is one of three Darren Weir trained runners in the 2018 Goodwood at Morphettville. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The best of Weir’s trio, Voodoo Lad with apprentice Ben Allen booked to ride, has drawn the rails in the capacity twenty horse Goodwood field while Luke Currie will have to negotiate the car park after his mount Stellar Collision drew barrier seventeen.
Weir’s third runner, Handsome Thief with Dean Yendall in the saddle, has drawn around the middle of the pack at gate twelve.
Weir has nominated first up specialist Voodoo Lad as his best chance at his first race start since running fifth to She Will Reign in the Group 1 $500,000 Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley during the 20117 Melbourne Spring Carnival in September.
Voodoo Lad’s first up record is outstanding with four wins and two seconds from six first up attempts.
“He’s the best rated of my three going in,” Weir told racing.com.
“He’s in great form and is always good fresh.”
“We couldn’t have him in any better order going in for his first run, but obviously it’s a very tough race.”
“He’s been right up there for a number of years and certainly deserves a Group 1 to his name.”
Weir is also expecting his other two runners, Handsome Thief and Stellar Collision, to perform well after they ran the quinella in the Listed $150,000 Midfield Group Wangoom Handicap (1200m) at Warrnambool on May 2.
“But the other two were impressive in Warrnambool and Stellar Collision should benefit from a lighter weight,” Weir said.
The Lindsay Park Team of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig will also have multiple Goodwood runners with Vega Magic and Thronum.
Vega Magic is looking to make it back to back wins in the Goodwood after claiming the race last year at his first start for the Lindsay Park Team with Craig Williams in the saddle.
Damien Oliver takes the ride this year on the former Western Australian trained five year old who will jump from barrier fourteen carrying the top weight of 59kg.
Lindsay Park’s other runner Thronum was a late scratching from last Saturday’s Group 1 $700,000 Kirin Doomben 10,000 (1200m) at Doomben after hitting his head in the tie up stalls just prior to getting saddled up and has drawn barrier five with Tim Clark booked to ride.
The Mick Price trained Secret Agenda was also out of luck at the barrier draw, coming up gate nineteen for Dwayne Dunn.
Secret Agenda finished fourth to Vega Magic in last year’s Goodwood and heads into this year’s edition on the back of a last start second to Shoals in the Group 1 $1m Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on May 5.
The local hope Viddora has drawn barrier eleven with regular rider Joe Bowditch in the saddle.
Final field for the 2018 Goodwood (1200m)
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1x1x11257x | VEGA MAGIC | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Damien Oliver | 14 | 59kg | 114 |
| 2 | 5x341x6x03 | SANTA ANA LANE | Anthony Freedman | Ben Melham | 9 | 58.5kg | 106 |
| 3 | 06x13x1402 | THRONUM | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Tim Clark | 5 | 57kg | 106 |
| 4 | x5114x1932 | SECRET AGENDA | Mick Price | Dwayne Dunn | 19 | 56.5kg | 111 |
| 5 | 212x2411x2 | VIDDORA | Lloyd Kennewell | Joe Bowditch | 11 | 56.5kg | 110 |
| 6 | 0x257x145x | VOODOO LAD | Darren Weir | Ben Allen (a) | 1 | 56.5kg | 108 |
| 7 | 3613413015 | FERRANDO (NZ) | Graeme Rogerson | Stephen Baster | 2 | 56kg | 97 |
| 8 | 80x188x1x0 | SUPER CASH | Andrew Noblet | Jamie Kah | 7 | 55.5kg | 108 |
| 9 | 8×61321212 | STELLAR COLLISION | Darren Weir | Luke Currie | 17 | 55.5kg | 103 |
| 10 | 1x115x4383 | VIRIDINE | James Cummings | Regan Bayliss | 20 | 55.5kg | 100 |
| 11 | 111613×641 | STEEL FROST | Will Clarken | Todd Pannell | 8 | 55.5kg | 97 |
| 12 | 292117×898 | LOPE DE CAPIO | Wayne Francis & Glen Kent | – | 15 | 55.5kg | 95 |
| 13 | x4408x4205 | FLAMBERGE | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | Damian Lane | 4 | 54.5kg | 108 |
| 14 | 31×3272161 | HANDSOME THIEF (IRE) | Darren Weir | Dean Yendall | 12 | 54.5kg | 96 |
| 15 | 1419×92158 | OVERSHARE | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | James Winks | 16 | 54.5kg | 86 |
| 16 | x111027512 | EXALTED ADAM | Grant Young | Clare Lindop | 13 | 54.5kg | 78 |
| 17 | 974628×851 | I’LL HAVE A BIT | John McArdle | Chris Parnham | 3 | 53.5kg | 94 |
| 18 | 449729×378 | MISSROCK | Robbie Laing | Ben Thompson | 6 | 52.5kg | 106 |
| 19 | 672171×123 | MICA LIL | Mark Minervini | Damien Thornton | 10 | 52.5kg | 82 |
| 20 | 1333×10276 | NIPPERKIN | Barry Brook | Krystal Bishop | 18 | 52.5kg | 78 |
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