Shark in Cox Plate - Cops Carpark Draw

racenet.com.au reports:

All the emotions of racing were on show with the Te Akau Shark camp as they celebrated making the Cox Plate field but were then left with an “extremely tough pill to swallow” when they draw the widest barrier.

The Kiwi galloper, who has a cult following, was understood to be on the fringe of getting a Cox Plate start but got the nod from the Moonee Valley committee ahead of the likes of Humidor and Mr Quickie.

However their joy was short-lived when they Te Akau Shark was the last horse to be drawn at the barrier draw, meaning there was only barrier 18 left to choose.

Trainer Jamie Richards confirmed to Racenet the Epsom Handicap runner-up was a certain Cox Plate starter but conceded the barrier now made winning the $5million race an uphill battle.

“It is very difficult for him, now he is going to be back and wide and he's probably got to go around the lot of them,” Richards said. 

“It's a tough pill to swallow but it's just the way it is.

“We have just got to assess the horse in the next couple of days and present him here in the best order we can.”

The task that confronts Te Akau Shark is probably best highlighted in betting.

Bookmakers feel the same way as Richards and have turned the gelding out in the betting market.

Te Akau Shark was $13 before the field was announced on Tuesday morning and drifted to $15 after making the field but drawing the carpark.

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