Racing: Mic Mac draws perfectly for Memsie assignment

Cranbourne galloper Mic Mac has drawn ideally in barrier four for the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield today, which sets him up beautifully to join the illustrious group to have won the feature.

Trainer Greg Eurell regarded the draw as crucial and it has certainly aided the talented 4-year-old who looks likely to take up a prominent position throughout.

Apart from Mic Mac, the $2.60 favourite with TAB Sportsbet, the rest of the runners in the 12-horse field are mostly "get-back" horses although Orange County, Sea Battle, Von Costa De Hero and Zarita have, at times, raced handy over the Memsie's 1400m.

Although Mic Mac meets 2007 Cox Plate hero El Segundo 7.5kg worse at the weights for beating him a little over a length in the Aurie's Star Hcp (1200m) at Flemington when both were resuming earlier this month, Eurell has no doubt his horse can make the transition to weight-for-age.

"We're fortunate in that Mic Mac has the ability to 'possie up' where you want him to be and he showed in his runs in those set weights 3-year-old races in Sydney last autumn that it would not be a problem," he said.

The Statue Of Liberty gelding won the group two Hobartville Stakes (1400m) and was spelled after finishing a 3-length fifth to Metal Bender in the Randwick Guineas (1600m) in March.

That effort was at the end of his first racing preparation which yielded five straight wins, beginning with a Sale 1200m 3-year-old maiden at the end of last November.

"He's in great shape and his work has been faultless," Eurell said.

"He wasn't fully wound up when he won the Aurie's Star."

He would have a better idea of where to head with Mic Mac after the Memsie and the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 12.

"That run will be even more indicative of where we go with him later in the spring," said Eurell, who is eyeing a Cox Plate start.

Mic Mac, at $18 for the Cox Plate, will take on $6 Cox Plate favourite Whobegotyou in the Memsie as well as El Segundo, who is equal second pick in Plate betting at $11 with last year's winner Maldivian and Liston Stakes winner Predatory Pricer.

Reigning Caulfield Guineas winner Whobegotyou, who drew barrier 11, will be trying to break a run of seven outs since his win in the Group Two AAMI Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day last spring.

The Street Cry 4-year-old has run four seconds and a third since then and looks a threat on his first-up effort when a half-neck runner-up in the Liston.

El Segundo, the 2006 Memsie winner, will be having his third run in the race having run fourth to Miss Finland in 2007.

It was a case of when two doors shut another one opened for top jockey Craig Williams who has picked up the ride on Sea Battle in the Memsie.

Williams has been replaced on the David Hayes-trained Von Costa De Hero by Craig Newitt, while Glen Boss takes over aboard the Brian Mayfield-Smith runner, Orange County.

- AAP