Wyong preview: A wide gate has dented trainer Kylie Gavenlock’s confidence but she isn’t giving up hope with Gogmagog

A first-up winner last preparation, trainer Kylie Gavenlock is hoping Gogmagog can do it again this campaign but a wide draw has made his task harder.

Gogmagog is looking for another first-up win when he resumes at Wyong. Picture: Bradley Photos

Gosford trainer Kylie Gavenlock is happy with her Wyong-bound trio of horses and expects them to run well but her confidence took a big hit when they all draw wide barriers.

Our Queen Bee has drawn barrier 11 of 12, Gogmagog gate 9 of 13 but comes in one if the emergency comes out while Diamond Drummer has barrier 7 of 12.

“All day, my problem is barriers. The barrier gods haven’t been kind to me lately,” said Gavenlock.

“I had one runner on the Beaumont at Newcastle on Thursday, Thebes, and he drew a bad gate as well.

“I scratched him last week because of a bad barrier so what do you do?

Lightly-raced four-year-old Gogmagog is resuming from a spell in the Class 1 Handicap (1000m).

A great ride from @MollyBourke7 sees Gogmagog hold on to win Race 4 at Hawkesbury! pic.twitter.com/nMIpFRDudD

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 11, 2024

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A winner of just one of his nine starts, that victory came first-up last preparation over 1000m at Hawkesbury when he beat The Grey and Lady Ichikawa after being taken on in front.

“I’m really happy with the horse, unfortunately, he has drawn that bad barrier,”.

“In 1000 metre races, you want to draw a nice alley so you can lob in a good spot. Especially with him as he has had a wind operation.

“It’s a bit of a shame because he is going well.

“He has jumped out well and doing everything right, I just would have liked a barrier.”

One positive for the son of Zoustar is the 3kg claim of apprentice Olivia Chambers which brings him down to 54kg.

Gavenlock was pleased with the debut effort of Our Queen Be at Muswellbrook three weeks ago when the three-year-old filly finished third behind impressive winner Panta Rhei.

Although beaten just over four-and-a-half lengths, she was a nose from second place.

“I was very happy with her first run. She had only had the one trial so it was a big thing to come out and run third in a 1000 metre race so I think she did a really good job,” she said.

“She got a bump coming out of the gates and just overacted.

“She did learn a lot from the run. It switched her on and she has become more of a racehorse after it.”

Panta Rhei bolts in on debut at @thebrookracing, with @NockBraith in the saddle for Justin Drake 👏 pic.twitter.com/yxh8XneRSy

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 29, 2024

From her wide gate, the daughter of Territories will need some luck in the Midway Maiden Plate (1100m) but can run another nice race.

“She can jump and put herself into the race but I also don’t want to turn her into a mad, speedy squib by having to drive her out of the gates all the time,” she said.

“If she was a little slow away, it probably wouldn’t be too bad. It might give her the chance to get onto the back of one and follow it.”

Diamond Drummer hasn’t tasted victory since his first start for Gavenlock in a Class 1 at Newcastle in August last year.

His maiden win was with previous trainer Michael Freedman in a Goulburn Maiden a month earlier.

Unfortunately, he has been burdened with big weights ever since until now.

The son of I Am Invincible drops to 55kg in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m).

“He was getting beat in the provincials so I took him to the country his last two starts and he was carrying 63kg,” said Gavenlock.

“At Muswellbrook last start, he went to let down but couldn’t under the big weight.

“He does build into his preparation, rock hard is fit now and is dropping down to a nice carriable weight.

“He won’t know himself with 55kg. That’s 7.5kg less than he had last start.

“He should run a cheeky race.”