It isn’t the barrier James McDonald requested, but Danny Shum has labelled gate seven ‘OK’ for Romantic Warrior in Saturday’s $5 million Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.
The Hong Kong star will start just wide of the middle of the field of 12 for the 2040-metre weight-for-age contest.
Romantic Warrior was the sixth horse invited to select a starting position in the unique draw where connections get to choose their own alley from those remaining and barriers two to six were the gates off limits.
“It’s reasonable, I think,” Shum said when asked to assess the draw.
“James gave me the numbers (he wanted), number four or number three, but seven is OK.”
Alligator Blood claimed barrier five after being the first horse drawn, while Mr Brightside (two), Militarize (three), Mr Oberon (four) and Victoria Road (six) were the others drawn before Romantic Warrior.
Gold Trip followed Romantic Warrior out and claimed barrier eight, Duais end up with the inside alley, while Zaaki was left with the outside barrier after being the final horse drawn.
Shum was excited to be at The Valley for the barrier draw and said Romantic Warrior had also enjoyed his recent visits to the Moonee Valley circuit.
Those experiences, combined with the fitness he has derived since his first-up fourth placing in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) on October 7, has Shum confident he can justify Cox Plate favouritism.
“I have him 90, 95 percent fit,” Shum said.
“He hadn’t been raced for four-and-a-half months before the Turnbull Stakes. If he can settle and get some cover, he’ll hit the line strong.
“He handled the sharp turn, so he’ll be a big chance to win the Cox Plate.”
Shum is honoured to have been given the chance to bring one of Hong Kong’s greats to Melbourne for one of Australia’s iconic races and said interest in the campaign back in Hong Kong had been immense.
“The Cox Plate is one of the most major races in Australia and every season the Hong Kong Jockey Club will simulcast the race,” Shum said.
“So Hong Kong people also love to watch the Cox Plate, especially with Romantic Warrior in the race.”