IF Victorian harness trainer Andy Gath is right in his assessment of his three-year-old Renaissance Man then the equal favourite for this Sunday Night’s Country Club Tasmania Australian Derby (2698m) will have a fight on his hands.
Queensland colt Lanercost is likely to share favouritism with Renaissance Man given his class record-breaking win in Launceston last Sunday night which was a warm-up for this week’s $100,000 Derby.
But the Queenslander has drawn gate 10, one out from the inside of the second row, while Renaissance Man has drawn the coveted pole position (gate one).
Gath said his three-year-old has had poor draws throughout this preparation but has still been very competitive and run sensational times from hopeless positions in the run.
He won the South Australian Derby in January before placing third in a heat of the Victoria Derby before finishing sixth in the final yet in that race he ran home his last half (800m) better than anything else in the race..
Renaissance Man goes into this Sunday night’s race on the back of a fourth in the $100,000 APG final at Menangle won by Maywyn Jasper.
“My horse has drawn some bad gates in good races this campaign so I guess he was due to draw well sooner or later,” Gath said.
“He has tremendous gate speed but so far this campaign he’s not been able to use it.”
“My horse is much stronger this preparation so if he can make full use of the pole position and lead, he will take some catching,” Gath said.
Lanercost has an awkward draw but his trainer-driver Dar5rel Graham remains upbeat about his chances.
The field boasts seven interstate three-year-olds and five locals with O’Grady likely to offer the most resistance of the home-grown brigade.
The Australian Derby is r5ace seven on the nine-race card and is scheduled to start at 8.15pm (AEST).