KEY POINTS:
Just as well Stephen McKee hadn't planned a round of golf yesterday - he'd have shanked the first tee shot for sure.
That would have been soon after the barrier draw was yesterday completed for Sunday's $1 million Karaka Million at Ellerslie.
McKee drew a long breath when he saw that Kaaptan had drawn barrier No 19.
"I've never had a 2-year-old that's had a handful of starts and drawn No 19 each time," he said in exasperation.
"It means we have to go back early [in running] again."
Because of the frustration, you can allow McKee a slight exaggeration.
Kaaptan has had four race starts and has drawn 9 of 10, 8 of 9, 9 of 9 and 13 of 14.
So receiving 19 of 20 for Ellerslie's dash for cash is definitely well beyond the law of averages.
The last couple of wide barriers have cost the Kaapstad youngster dearly.
He came from an impossible position to finish second to impressive debut winner The Heckler at Ellerslie on Boxing Day and from a similar position to chase home Mexican Rose on the same track two weeks ago.
The unbeaten Mexican Rose is only one barrier inside Kaaptan and only slightly better off are fancied runners Numero De Lago (14) and Veldt (13).
All those barriers will look a bit better on raceday.
If the emergencies come out, Kaaptan will start from the outside No 14 gate, Numero De Lago 12 and Veldt 11.
The Australians Sarge In Charge, from Liam Birchley's Brisbane stable, has gate 11 (which will come into 10) and the David Hayes-trained Optimising will come out of barrier 6 if only the emergencies come out.
TAB bookmakers will be releasing a market on the Karaka Million today.
Young Centaur has opened as a $7 favourite for Saturday's group two $350,000 Wellington Cup (2400m), despite drawing wide.
Head bookie Thad Taylor said there had been little changes to the market after the draw.
Young Centaur, winner of the Cup last year when it was a group one 3200m event, drew 20, three from the outside. The race limit is 18, with five emergencies, two of whom are drawn wider than Young Centaur.
The John Sargent-trained stayer will be ridden by Michael Walker, who was successful on him in last year's Cup.
Willy Smith, the 2007 winner, was a $7.50 second favourite last night after drawing barrier 2. He carries the topweight of 57kg, while Young Centaur has 56.5kg.
Avondale Cup winner Tinseltown was third favourite at $8 after drawing well in 6, while Katy Keen, Hoorang and Butch James were all at $11, ahead of Overkaast and Castle Heights on $12.
Someone isn't worried about the barrier draw - the first and still only major bet the TAB fielded after the barrier draw for the Cup was $3000 on Young Centaur at $7.
But he's well short of being the TAB's worst result in pre-post betting so far.
That belongs to New Zealand Cup winner Hoorang after one punter plonked $4000 on her at $12 in the futures market on Sunday.
The Jeff Lynds-trained Vosne Romanee opened up a $3.60 favourite for Saturday's other feature, the group one $250,000 Thorndon Mile (1600m) after drawing barrier 8 in a 12-horse field.
Culminate, who drew the inside, was also favoured on $4.80, followed by her McKee stablemate and last week's winner Striker (3) and Sircross (11) on $6.
- NZPA
