KEY POINTS:
Lombo Pocket Watch's disastrous Derby campaign worsened yesterday.
The champion Australian 3-year-old suffered the worst defeat of his life when tripped up by the right-handed Alexandra Park track on Friday night as Gotta Go Cullen extracted some revenge for his defeat in the Australasian Breeders' Crown.
That resulted in Lombo Pocket Watch falling from $2.20 favouritism for Friday night's $200,000 Woodlands Northern Derby to $4.50.
And he drifted even more after yesterday's barrier draw which will see him start from nine, the inside of the second line. That means the glamour grey will have to come from back in the field, while two of his key rivals, Changeover (6) and Gotta Go Cullen (7), are drawn to settle a long way in front of him.
But driver Gavin Fitzpatrick isn't panicking just yet.
"It looks tricky but they could go very hard and it might be a good race to do nothing for the first lap anyway," said Fitzpatrick.
The New South Wales horseman is considering removing the earplugs Lombo Pocket Watch wore in his defeat last Friday.
"He ducked out when I pulled the plugs and lost two lengths on the home bend so we might leave them off this week.
"But apart from that we aren't getting too concerned. He would have learnt a lot from last Friday and he actually paced well.
"It was just some mental things with him getting used to the track."
Lombo Pocket Watch was out to a career high $5 last night, with Gotta Go Cullen just holding favouritism at $3.50.
The rangy pacer showed blistering gate speed last Friday and if he can do so again looks a big chance to lead in the Derby.
Changeover, who won the second prelude last Friday, will start from inside him and was at $3.80 last night.
The second Australian in the field, Lombo Mandingo, has drawn to use his gate speed at barrier four.
Another one of the favourites facing a tricky marble is Fergiemack, who will start from the outside of the second line. That saw him drift slightly to $4.50 yesterday.
* The field for the $200,000 Woodlands Derby on Friday night is. - Days Of Courage (1), Montecito (2), Ebony Gem (3), Lombo Mandigo (4), Tuapeka Tiz (5), Changeover (6), Gotta Go Cullen (7), Christian Warrior (8), Lombo Pocket Watch (9), St Barts (10), Costalot (11), Kamwood Warrior (12), Fergiemack (13).
The TAB odds: $3.50, Gotta Go Cullen; $3.80, Changeover; $4.50, Fergiemack; $5, Lombo Pocket Watch; $15, St Barts; $21, Days Of Courage, Montecito; $25, Ebony Gem; $31, Christian Warrior, $35, Lombo Mandingo; $41, Kamwood Warrior; $61, Costalot; $101, Tuapeka Tiz.
