Dream draw for Bruggemann’s Highly Decorated with announcement of barrier draw results for the Darwin Cup

The barrier draw for the Darwin Cup has been announced, with one of the race’s most favoured runners scoring the highly coveted barrier one.

Trainer Nicole Bruggemann is thrilled that Highly Decorated has drawn barrier one for the Great Northern Darwin Cup. Picture: Caroline Camilleri

TRAINER Nicole Bruggemann could not have asked for a better draw than barrier one for her highly favoured horse Highly Decorated.

The runner was the third name called when the Darwin Cup barrier draw was announced today, with barrier one still up for the picking, and Bruggemann and her stable were quick to celebrate.

Highly Decorated has had a stellar time recently, winning his past six races including the Chief Minister’s Cup.

And no matter the result on Monday, Bruggemann said her time in Darwin so far, culminating in the Great Northern Darwin Cup, had been a “fairytale” for her and her stable.

“(We) couldn’t have asked for a better barrier,” she said.

“It’s all up from here, no matter the result of the race.

“He’s got the perfect gate.

“He can dictate the race with speed and it’s all down to him now.

“We were concerned coming into today but gate one is the fairytale for us. Everyone is happy.

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“It’s a great venue, a great establishment.

“The horse is great and now it’s all over to him and Jess (Philpot).”

Another favourite, I Am The Fox from the Garry Lefoe stable, was perhaps not as fortunate, drawing barrier 10 with little choice left.

But 2021 Alice Springs Cup-winning trainer Lefoe was not too concerned by the pick, given his racer’s tendency to follow from behind early on.

“The barrier doesn’t bother me. He will go back near the tail of the field anyway, so I’m not too bothered by that,” he said.

“We sort of wanted the middle. But barrier 10 will work for us.

“He will go back and run his usual race.

“Some of the key speed horses have drawn close to the inside rail so they will use that to their advantage.

“We will let them set the pace and do what we need to do.”

Barriers for the 2021 Great Northern Darwin Cup:

1. Highly Decorated

2. Casino Seventeen

3. Budget King (Emergency)

4. Trident

5. Paghman

6. Danon Roman

7. Noir De Rue

8. Kaonic

9. Heavenly Emperor

10. I Am The Fox

11. Lotion

12. Ash Grey

13. Coin Collector (Emergency)

14. Reserve Street