A good barrier draw can be the difference between winning and losing as trainer David Brideoake can attest.
The times promising three-year-old Rossman has drawn well during his brief career have resulted in wins at Sandown and Sale while his past two starts have been defeats from wide draws.
He has suffered again at Sandown on Wednesday in The Sheen Panel Service Handicap (1400m) drawing gate 13 of the 15 runners.
It comes on top of Rossman being scratched from a three-year-old race at Moonee Valley last Saturday after drawing barrier 19.
Like many trainers Brideoake wonders about the random barrier draws, especially with Rossman drawing 12, 11 and now 13 for his past three starts along with his scratching from 19 last week.
“I just don’t know how the random system works,” Brideoake said.
Putting that aside Brideoake said Rossman was in good order as he strives to register his third win from his sixth start on Wednesday.
He is coming off a last-start third behind Iconoclasm at Flemington on May 19 when he charged home from back in the field over 1600m.
“The horse is well and I think he goes in with a nice chance so we’ll see where it all leads to,” Brideoake said.
“I thought it was a great run the other day.
“Possibly going back from that barrier made it a bit hard so we’ll see what happens on Wednesday.”
Rossman is in his first preparation, beginning his career in March, and Brideoake says the gelding is still handling the workload.
He hasn’t seen any outward signs the three-year-old is needing a break and plans to continue running Rossman through the winter months.
“We’ll keep pecking away at these types of races while he’s still a three-year-old and he’s going pretty well,” Brideoake said.
Rossman has been posted an $8 chance in an open betting race with Mr Money Bags, who has chased the promising Fifty Stars at his past two starts, the $5.50 favourite.
