Billy Egan remains upbeat despite drawing wide with Young Werther in Ballarat Cup

Young Werther has a wide barrier in the Ballarat Cup but jockey Billy Egan says where his main rivals have drawn could help his cause.

Some consolation to being drawn wide in the Ballarat Cup (2000m) on Saturday is jockey Billy Egan has good company.

Egan, keen to go one better in the $500,000 Listed feature aboard Young Werther, has favourite Poison Chalice and Future History drawn to his outside.

Six of the top 10 in the market actually received double-digit barriers.

Third favourite Globe could improve two spots from gate 10 to eight should the emergencies not gain a start in the capacity 16-horse field.

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Young Werther (14), Poison Chalice (15) and Future History (17) would all come in four positions.

Ain’tnodeeldun (16) and It’d A Wild Night (19) also drew out.

Egan, like others, rather draw in but being surrounded by other leading chances helps the collective.

“You got more variety of horses, what back you want to get on,” Egan said.

“You’re not tied down too much, but we’d all prefer to draw in, I know I would.”

Young Werther is a $13 chance with Ladbrokes in the Ballarat Cup behind Poison Chalice ($4.80), Future History ($6.50), Globe ($8.50), Berkeley Square ($9) and Air Assault ($10).

Young Werther finished second in the race last year behind Paul Preusker-trained Captain Envious, a stablemate to favourite Poison Chalice.

Egan will be reunited with the Danny O’Brien-trained stayer for the first time since the Ballarat Cup last year.

Billy Egan combining with Young Werther for a win at The Valley last year. Picture: George Sal/Racing Photos via Getty Images

They forged a good association last year, with two wins and two places in five starts.

Young Werther beat subsequent Caulfield Cup winner Duke De Sessa first-up at 2000m and then finished fifth in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes, 2½ lengths behind eventual Cox Plate star Via Sistina.

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Young Werther raced wide without cover in the Caulfield Cup – a complete forgive run.

“He’s had five weeks between runs, his form going into the Caulfield Cup was really good,” Egan said.

“He was beaten two lengths by Via Sistina, he’d beaten Duke De Sessa, who came out and won the Caulfield Cup.

“Buckaroo (second in the Turnbull) ran huge races after that and he (Young Werther) was only beaten two lengths by it, the form around him is really good.

“He showed the last season that he’s actually putting his head out and winning races, he’s really just got to do what he’s been doing to go close.”

Egan has six rides on Saturday including Farhh Flung, also for also for trainer Danny O’Brien, in the Benchmark 78 McKellar Mile (1600m).

Egan will also partner Juggernaut Joan in the $250,000 Emerging Stars Final (1400m) and The Open in a 1400m Benchmark 84, both for co-trainers Patrick and Michelle Payne.

Originally published as Billy Egan remains upbeat despite drawing wide with Young Werther in Ballarat Cup