Racing: McKenzie draws bad luck

SYDNEY - Talk about the visitor's draw. Levin trainer Peter McKenzie has received a double of outside barriers for Empyreal and Miles at Randwick tomorrow, while 3-year-old Sculptor has not fared well either.

McKenzie campaigned a team of horses in Queensland during the winter and is now in New South Wales. His base is still at Levin but, disillusioned with stakemoney in New Zealand, he is trying his luck for bigger purses in Australia.

The move has had its ups and downs and tomorrow's barrier draws were a definite downer.

McKenzie could not believe his bad luck in the case of resilient stayer Empyreal, who runs in the 10-horse group three Colin Stephen Quality over 2400m.

"He drew the outside at Newcastle last start and was disadvantaged by the way the race was run. Nothing went his way."

That was in the Newcastle Cup in which he finished eighth.

McKenzie thinks with the outside draw new jockey Kanichiro Fujii will not have much option but to drop Empyreal back, but wants him to improve if there is any opportunity.

"If the race is run to suit him, he would be right there, but it really depends on how the first two furlongs of the race are run.

"In the staying races here they have been dawdling in the middle stages and sprinting home, so you can't be too far back. Hopefully he can placed in the race before the pressure goes on."

Empyreal campaigned in Brisbane during the winter, winning the Caloundra Cup.

McKenzie would prefer rain to improve his chances tomorrow, but said the horse was very fit.

He and Miles are being aimed at the group one Metropolitan Handicap next weekend, but both have to win tomorrow to make the field.

Miles, who has nine rivals in the Lord Taverners Plate over 1600m, missed some work after being badly galloped on when fifth in the Wyong Cup on September 1.

"He suffered severe bruising above the stifle and was lucky not to have a severe injury. It was like giving your hamstring a really bad bash."

McKenzie thinks Miles is ready to run a big race, but said it was hard for him to gauge the quality of the opposition.

Sculptor has drawn seven of nine runners in the listed Dulcify Quality over 1800m and McKenzie will be relying on Larry Cassidy, who also rides Miles, to give him a good run.

McKenzie has nominated Sculptor for the group one Spring Champion Stakes on October 1 and the Victoria Derby on October 29.

- NZPA