Racing: Baldessarini must overcome tough barrier draw - again

Yes, the 58kg and barrier No 11 fazes trainer Ann Herbert about Baldessarini in tomorrow's Vincent Collins Farewell $40,000 sprint at Ellerslie.

But she's not accepting that it's prohibitive.

Baldessarini has not raced since finishing sixth in Gee I Jane's Telegraph Handicap at Trentham in January.

"We scratched at Hastings last start, but he's got to kick off somewhere," said Herbert.

An outside barrier at 1200m is not prohibitive at Ellerslie, but it's difficult.

Baldessarini won the group one Railway over this distance from barrier No 12, so 11 tomorrow is not impossible.

"I guess the barrier draw gives us the opportunity to race where we want to."

Baldessarini will be ridden by Lisa Cropp, who was aboard the classy sprinter when he won the Railway.

There is no question Baldessarini would have left the Railway field behind had he drawn reasonably well.

The fact he came out of barrier No 12 of 12 should have made it difficult, but he still got the money.

Given the scenario, it's difficult to believe he cannot repeat that in a very strong field.

The draw is interesting.

"He can settle in behind them if he needs to," says Herbert about the highly rated sprinter.

"Mi Jubilee and those types of horses will run along and hopefully give him a trail."

Mi Jubilee is brilliant. She has won seven of her 19 starts and is unbeaten in two starts at Ellerslie.

This may not be the Railway, but it has a Railway feel about it.

Leigh Valley has not raced since March, but she is a fresh specialist, a recent trials winner and is very talented at best.

* Latest odds:

Vincent Collins Farewell, $40,000, open handicap, 1200m (run at Ellerslie tomorrow): $3.50 Baldessarini; $5 Pin Up Boy; $6.50 Leigh Valley; $7.50 Devoted; $9 Mi Jubilee; $12 Mohican Brave, Pentazia; $16 Star Of Rio; $20 Mr Multiwin; $35 Western Legacy, Shinko Bay, Rat Tat, Woodbury Lane; $40 I Rock My World; $60 Grace And Favour.

Bonecrusher Stakes, $50,000, 3yos, listed, 1400m (run at Ellerslie on Saturday): $2.20 Magic Cape; $4.50 Keepem; $10 Bonaichi, Star Of Nero; $11 Fingers Crossed, Ifionlyhadtime; $15 Roma; $17 Do Me A Favour; $30 Bellamour, Perfect Player; $40 Mels Bad Boy.

Soliloquy Stakes, $50,000, 3yo fillies, listed, 1400m (run at Ellerslie on Saturday): $7 Imananabaa, Keep The Passion, Electrostatic; $9 Whodat Cugat, Velvet And Satin, Seven Hills; $10 Soelin; $14 Material Girl, Bonaichi, Solis; $15 Post Romance; $16 Sitting On A Hill; $18 Roma; $35 Tunza Times.