The Australian Bloodstock team did not have any complaints with Rodrigo Diaz’s time in Australia until Monday morning.
That was when the barrier draw for Wednesday’s $500,000 Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) was conducted.
The David Simcock-trained gelding fared terribly, drawing gate 17 – which will become 15 if the two emergencies don’t gain a start – which has significantly added to the degree of difficulty confronting jockey Damien Oliver according to Australian Bloodstock’s Jamie Lovett.
“With blinkers first time, we were hoping to ride him more positively, but that might be out of play now.
“He probably gets back, which is going to make it hard to win in the big field.
“But he’s there to win. Looking at the order of entry, he’s going to miss a run in the 2022 Melbourne Cup, so he’d need to win and get a penalty.”
Rodrigo Diaz, who has just 50.5kg in the Melbourne Cup, slipped to 32nd in the updated order of entry, which was released on Monday afternoon.
The son of Golden Horn arrived in Australia a winner of four of his 17 starts, with an additional six minor placings.
Among them are a third placing in the Group 3 Henry II Stakes (3264m) won by Quickthorn three starts back and a second placing to Coltrane in the Listed Marathon Stakes (3264m) two starts back.
He hasn’t been to the races since finishing 13th as a $41 chance in the Ebor Handicap (2787m) on August 20.
He is one of a number of Northern Hemisphere-bred gallopers towards the head of Geelong Cup markets with Interpretation (barrier four), Surefire (six), Makram (18) and Francesco Guardi (15) among the others engaged in the field of 17 plus two emergencies.
Lovett said all the reports had been favourable since Rodrigo Diaz took up residence at the Werribee quarantine facility.
“David Simcock was telling me his man out there has been with the horse since he was a foal, so he knows the horse inside-out, and he’s been delighted with the way that he’s settled in,” Lovett said.
“His work has been good, ‘Ollie’ went out and rode him and was pleased with him so we’ve got no excuses in that department.
“He’s in good order, it’s just a matter of, one, if he’s good enough and, two, whether he gets the right run from that draw.”
