Kembla preview: Sterling Alexiou looking for positives with wide draws

Co-trainer Sterling Alexiou was left ruing the chances of the stables three runners after they all drew wide in their respective assignments at Kembla.

To add to his misery, the rail is out between 3m and 6m which will add another dimension to their challenges.

“We aren’t having a lot of luck with barrier draws at the moment,” Alexiou, who trains alongside Gerald Ryan said.

“We just have to hope that there is a good tempo in their races and that they get a bit of good luck in the run.”

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Enigmatic three-year-old Emancipist who has drawn barrier 15 in the Benchmark 64 Handicap over 1200m but can cause a boilover at big odds.

The gelding turned his form around with a close third to Coriolis at Newcastle and followed up with a two-length win at Goulburn before a fifth to Zarni here last time out.

“He has been a horse that has notoriously done a lot of things wrong, whether it be in the barriers or in the run,” Alexiou said.

“On Keagan’s (Latham) advice, we have come back to 1200m with him this week.

“I’m not really worried about the barrier with him as he does come out ordinary any way.

“I’d like to think the big field generates a good tempo and he can tag something from the half mile and get into the race at the right time, he will be hitting the line very well.”

Mr Caleb resumes from a spell in the 2YO Maiden Handicap over 1300m where he has drawn barrier 10 with Jason Collett to ride.

The son of More Than Ready was seven lengths off the winner when third on debut but pleased Alexiou under the circumstances and he followed up with a desperately unlucky fifth at Eagle Farm in March.

“He did a lot wrong on debut here and was chasing a long way out. I thought he did a good job to be at his top for as long as he was and still finish the race off,” he said.

“He looked a bit stiff second-up and James (Orman) was adamant he should have been winning the race.

“He’s a horse who has always shown us a bit and while we thought we would win a race with him in his first preparation, he only had the two starts but hopefully he can pick up a couple of wins this time in.

“He spelled well and seems to have some back in good order.

“I thought he has trialled OK both times this time in. He’s not a horse that is going wow everyone in his trials. He saves his best for race day and only give as much as he has to.

“He seems a horse that when he is under pressure, there is something there.”

Golden Gate has come up with gate 15 in the Benchmark 68 Handicap (1400m) but is racing in good form and can produce a quick finish if things pan out in her favour.

The daughter of Nicconi missed the kick last start but was doing her best work late when fourth to Principessa over 1300m on the Kensington track.

“She just dwelt a bit at the start the other day which she can do. She’s not great out of the barriers,” Alexiou said.

“Obviously, getting back around Kensington is not really ideal especially on a day where the inside looked the place to be.

“She is another one we are hopefully will be midfield or just a shade worse with cover.

“She has a big finish on her when the speed allows for it although we would have preferred a wet track for her.”

Ballina preview: Munce back on winning track

Ballina has been a happy hunting ground for Queensland trainer Chris Munce and he returns on Thursday with two runners ready to add to his tally.

The Group 1-winning jockey and trainer has had six winners from 28 runners at the track at a strike rate of 21.4 per cent, which lifts to 42.9 per cent when his six placegetters are added.

Munce’s first runner for the day is three-year-old gelding Oro in the Roofing Craftsmen Maiden Plate over 1310m, for which he has drawn ideally in gate two with Jake Bayliss aboard.

The son of Whittington endured a tough run when fourth behind Extortionist at Warwick on July 6 but was just beaten by Hello In There at Lismore before that and a repeat of that effort should see him go close.

“You would like to think so,” Munce said.

“He raced very well at Lismore when he just got beat then at Warwick last start he drew wide and was probably asked to do a little bit more than he should have been early.

“He has drawn much better this time out, Jake Bayliss goes back on and he knows the horse well, so I expect him to run another good race.

“He will handle the 1310m there nicely and hopefully he can get his first win.”

Stablemate Money Bear broke his maiden at Dalby last month and has been good in defeat when fourth at Kilcoy and second at Ipswich in two starts since.

The son of Capitalist has also come up with a perfect draw in barrier one in the Class 1 Handicap over 1260m.

“Getting two good draws like that is very surprising for my ­stable, I can assure you,” Munce said.

“I thought he looked to have his chance at Ipswich the other day but the winner just had too soft a run in front and was too good, but this guy was still hitting the line strongly.

“It was a good effort when he won at Dalby and he wasn’t bad at Kilcoy after that.

“He has drawn better again on Thursday to get a nice, soft run and it gives him an even better chance.”