Paul Shailer gutted by Queensland Derby barrier in hunt for first Group 1

Trainer Paul Shailer has an exciting Queensland Derby prospect but his chances of landing a first Group 1 have been hurt by a wide barrier.

Paul Shailer was left deflated after the Queensland Derby barrier draw. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

Striving for a defining Group 1 breakthrough, trainer Paul Shailer concedes he was deflated when the Racing Australia system spat out the barrier for Deep Focus in the Queensland Derby.

Shailer, fresh off winning a $1m juvenile sprint with Isti Star, was convinced he had a huge chance to win his first Group 1 in the Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Deep Focus was arguably the run of the race in the Derby lead-up of the Rough Habit Plate (2000m) when surging home from the back to finish runner-up and he was as strong as an ox late.

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All Deep Focus needed was a half decent barrier to solidify his Derby prospects.

Up popped barrier 18.

It means Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michael Rodd is probably going to have to drop right back on Deep Focus when a kinder barrier would have meant he wasn’t conceding nearly as much ground.

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“The barrier is what it is, but ideally we would have drawn towards the inside somewhere and we would have just landed in the first half of the field or midfield getting a cosy run,” Shailer said.

“But now we are going to be a bit dictated to, where we end up, and I’m tipping it’s going to be back in the field.

“Then we will probably have to get into a three-wide line, it’s not ideal and it has certainly impacted our chances.

Exciting three-year-old colt Deep Focus will need to conquer a wide barrier to score the Queensland Derby. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

“Our whole preparation has been built around this race and we have been teaching him how to relax and stretch out and get home.

“The barrier does hurt, if we drew inside of seven I would have thought we would have been a really genuine chance of winning.

“Now, we just need things to go our way.”

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Putting the disappointing barrier to one side, Deep Focus has been tracking nicely towards the Derby and his Rough Habit effort was a real eye-catcher.

Deep Focus is sired by Deep Field but there seems little issue with him staying the 2400m of the Derby trip and Shailer is convinced he will.

“From a Derby trial point of view, what we saw in the Rough Habit was what we wanted to see,” Shailer said.

“That race is a genuine lead-up to the Derby and there is a lot of history which suggests the Rough Habit is the race you want to come out of.

“I think he is the horse you would want coming out of that race, well, maybe until he drew barrier 18 in the Derby, anyway.

“One thing for sure is that I am very confident he will stay the trip of the Derby.”

Shailer is confident Deep Focus will run out the 2400m. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

Heavy-hitters including Peter Tighe, Max Whitby and Neil Werrett are in the ownership of Deep Focus which has remained solid at $18 in the betting market since the Derby barrier draw.

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Shailer’s stable has been in form and he enjoyed a huge moment recently when Isti Star scored in the $1m Magic Millions National 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast.

Another of Shailer’s two-year-olds – filly Ha’penny Hatch – will take her place in Saturday’s $1m BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).

“She will run from a nice barrier and be backing up from last Saturday (finishing fourth in the Listed Bill Carter Stakes),” Shailer said.

“She has gone out to the farm for three days and she will come back to us on Thursday afternoon.

“That will just keep her mind nice and sharp.

“She is a tough filly and she had no luck in the Bill Carter.”

Originally published as Paul Shailer gutted by Queensland Derby barrier in hunt for first Group 1