Horse racing: Daunting barrier draw for Emirates S'pore Derby favourite

Spalato (right, with jockey Manoel Nunes astride) duelling with Stepitup (with jockey David Flores astride), on his outside before winning the Group 1 Patron’s Bowl by a shorthead on 22 June 2014. Pre-race favourite Stepitup drew the widest barrier
Spalato (right, with jockey Manoel Nunes astride) duelling with Stepitup (with jockey David Flores astride), on his outside before winning the Group 1 Patron’s Bowl by a shorthead on 22 June 2014. Pre-race favourite Stepitup drew the widest barrier for this Sunday's Emirates Singapore Derby at the $1.15 million race's post position draw, held at the Singapore Turf Club on Wednesday afternoon. -- PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER FILE

Pre-race favourite Stepitup drew the widest barrier for this Sunday's Emirates Singapore Derby at the $1.15 million race's post position draw, held at the Singapore Turf Club on Wednesday afternoon.

An Australian gelding rated highest at 102, Stepitup drew an unfavourable barrier 18, and will start out wide at barrier 16 for the 2,000-metre race. There are two Emergency Acceptors in the draw.

The race is the third and final leg of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge, a series of three races restricted to four-year-old horses at the Singapore Turf Club.

Last year's Emirates Singapore Derby winning trainer Hideyuki Takaoka's mare Bendicion drew barrier six. Spalato, who won the $500,000 second-leg Patron's Bowl on June 22, will start from barrier 10.

Emirates Singapore Derby Post Position Draw: barrier 1 - Valbuena, barrier 2 - Cordoba, barrier 3 - Emperor's Banquet, barrier 4 - Johnny Guitar, barrier 5 - Alfonso, barrier 6 - Bendicion, barrier 7 - Wall Street Boy, barrier 8 - Magical Talent, barrier 9 - Verglatica, barrier 10 - Spalato, barrier 11 - Panama City, barrier 12 - Flying Tempo (E1), barrier 13 - Iznate, barrier 14 - Mr Armstrong, barrier 15 - Empress Wu, barrier 16 - Flight Ofthe Saker, barrier 17 - Gold Hill (E2), barrier 18 - Stepitup

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