In Brief
- Toorak Affair draws ideally in gate five for Sunday's Ladbrokes Hobart Cup.
- Darmanin rapt with draw.
- Mandela Effect draws wide gate but Sir Simon draws ideal barrier.
Last year’s Ladbrokes Hobart Cup winner Toorak Affair has been afforded the luxury of a perfect barrier for Sunday’s Group 3 event over 2400m after drawing gate five at the official barrier draw at Elwick on Wednesday.
The Michael Trinder-trained mare started from gate eight last year from which she was forced to work hard early to find a good position but her jockey from barrier five, rider Anthony Darmanin, is thrilled with the draw.
“I would have loved anything from barrier two to seven, so gate five is perfect,” Darmanin said.
Toorak Affair won two weight-for-age races leading up to her last-start fourth behind White Hawk in the Summer Cup in Hobart two weeks ago.
“Her run in the Summer Cup was way better than it looks on paper because the pace was very ordinary, and she was left a bit flat-footed when they sprinted.
“She gets in well at the weights and I’m sure her trainer will have her spot-on on the day.”
The only two interstate-trained and owned invaders, Barade and Classic Weiwei, were at opposite ends of the spectrum with Classic Weiwei drawing perfectly in gate three while Barade must contend with gate 11 in a field of 15.
The Patrick Payne-trained Double You Tee is owned by Tasmanians including major shareholder Ian Halliday and has only been in the care of Patrick Payne since he was four.
The gelding began his racing career with John Blacker who purchased him for over $100,000 at the 2016 Tasmanian magic Millions Yearling sale after which he placed second in a Tasmanian Guineas and Hobart Guineas before finishing fourth in the 2018 Tasmanian Derby.
Double You Tee won a maiden-class one in Launceston two starts later, after which he was sent to Payne.
All three placegetters in last year’s Hobart Cup, Toorak Affair, (five), Shady Hustle (one) and Glass Warrior (six) did well at the barrier draw.
Mandela Effect, that was an eye-catching second to White Hawk in the Summer Cup two weeks ago at his first test beyond 1600m, drew gate nine.
His stablemate Sir Simon drew favourably in gate seven and should the rain come and reduce the track to a slow or heavy surface, then the gallant grey gelding will be in his element.
Watch Toorak Affair win last year’s Ladbrokes Hobart Cup.