Racing: Disbelief at Prized Gem's horror Cup draws

The connections of New Zealand mare Prized Gem were left shaking their heads after her Melbourne Cup barrier draw was announced.

Prized Gem drew 24 in the field of 24. But that was not the reason for the connections' disbelief.

They had gone through the same agonising process for Prized Gem's previous start in the Caulfield Cup. Following one late scratching for the race, she started on the very outside of the 17-horse field.

"What's the odds of that happening?" was all Cambridge trainer Murray Baker could say.

Prized Gem was unplaced in the Caulfield Cup, run on October 19, but Baker said the wide draw and a very firm track were two big factors against her.

"She felt the ground terribly at Caulfield," said Baker.

He said the pace of the race did not work in Prized Gem's favour after she got back in the running. The first three home all raced handy.

"She drew wide and never got in the race," he said. "They only went at a slow pace to about the 900 metres and then clapped on the speed. If you were a back runner you couldn't get near them."

Baker said that throughout Prized Gem's career he had needed to be wary of her jarring up on hard tracks. "She has always raced in rubber-lined plates because she does tend to feel the ground a bit. Any sort of moisture would help her."

Baker said a track rated as good could be enough for Prized Gem, depending on the extent of watering.

"As long as there is a bit of give, that's all we need."

One concern Baker does not have to worry about is Prized Gem's seeing out the 3200m distance. She won at that distance when taking out the Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm. when underfoot conditions were given as dead.

- NZPA