By Ronny Lerner
Jockey Luke Nolen has dismissed suggestion that the barrier draw will affect his steed Brambles' hopes of an unlikely Melbourne Cup triumph on Tuesday.
The six-year-old gelding will start the great race from close to the car park in barrier 21.
Chad Schofield rides Brambles (right) to victory at Flemington in September.Credit: Getty Images
But Nolen doesn't believe the barrier draw is as significant in the Melbourne Cup as it is in the Caulfield Cup which Brambles finished fourth in three weekends ago.
"With a good run into the first corner, my bloke's got tactical speed so he'll find a forward position somewhere and with a back-up from Saturday (Mackinnon Stakes) hopefully he goes nice and kind for me and runs out a strong two miles as a result," Nolen told SEN on Tuesday morning.
History is also on the side of Nolen and Brambles with barrier 21 actually the equal-fourth-most successful barrier in the 153-year history of the Melbourne Cup, producing four winners.
The champion jockey described what his ideal position would be coming around the first turn at Flemington.
"I'd love to be one-one on a good even speed with my bloke with his head bowed and relaxing and going nicely for me. That's a perfect world," Nolen said.
"But he can be anywhere from one, two, three, four, fix, six. Wherever he sort of fits in and he travels nice for me, I'll ride my race around where he's happiest."
While Brambles didn't have a great Mackinnon Stakes on Saturday, finishing ninth, Nolen drew confidence from the $61 shot's run in the Caulfield Cup on October 18.
"I thought he ran quite well in the Caulfield Cup and if he replicates that run I think he'll run a real cheeky race," Nolen said.
"His run the other day in the Mackinnon (Stakes), it's a bit hard to lead all the way. He's had that grounding and he actually ran it like a two-miler and back at handicaps will suit so I'm happy with where my bloke is."
There's a lot of unknown surrounding Brambles heading into the Melbourne Cup given he has never run 3200m, but Nolen is confident the Peter Moody-trained horse can get the job done.
"I think he has the toughness to win two miles. He probably doesn't have the class to win a Melbourne Cup but he has the toughness and it's going to carry him a long way to that last half-mile," Nolen said.
"He's trained up for it so, like everyone else, we'll know more about (Brambles) at three o'clock this afternoon."