In-form jockey Josh Parr refuses to see barrier 11 as a negative for the Golden Rose favourite Menari.
The Gerald Ryan-trained colt remains the solid bookies' elect for the $1 million three-year-old set weights contest after drawing in the outside quartet of barriers for Saturday's feature race.
"I'm ok with it, it's better than (barrier) one put it that way," Parr said. "He's such a big-striding horse and he appreciates a bit of room."
Menari has won both of his three-year-old starts. He resumed with a 1-1/4 length victory lumping 60.5kg in the Listed The Rosebud (1100m) before overcoming the outside barrier of nine when scoring by 1-1/2 lengths in the Group II Run To The Rose (1200m) on September 9.
Menari resumes in brilliant fashion, letting down with a big run to win the listed Rosebud at #Rosehill! pic.twitter.com/XzejTVwGue
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 12, 2017
Menari wins The Rosebud on September 12.
Menari the ferrari!
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 9, 2017
The @GRyanRacing colt proves too good for Pariah in the G2 Run To The Rose at #Rosehill. pic.twitter.com/uDzK0OqgIw
Menari wins the Run To The Rose on September 9.
"He's shown his versatility in his two runs this preparation," Parr said.
"I'm not giving anything away but he's the sort of horse that I could lead on him, I could sit fourth or fifth, I could sit midfield or I could sit last.
"He's that adaptable and he'd race the same way regardless of where we travel. That's the beauty of him."
Parr was again aboard Menari when the son of Snitzel galloped at Rosehill on Monday morning and said he couldn't hide his delight when jumping off the striking colt after the workout.
"He's cherry ripe," he said. "His work was really good, I think it was every bit as good, maybe a touch better than going into the Run To The Rose and his condition is improving all the time.
"Before The Rosebud he was big and he had a sweat, he was nowhere near the fitness level of his rivals that day but the racing has brought him on.
"He's doing really well and I am going into the race with plenty of confidence. Gerald has him spot on.
"I do think he's the best horse in the race, we just need that bit of luck, something you need every time you get on the back of one.
"I think potentially he's the best I've sat on. He just needs to prove it now at Group I level."
