Race favourites spread across the field following 2022 Darwin Cup barrier draw

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THE 2022 Darwin Cup barrier draw has come and gone with some of the race’s strongest contenders clustered in the middle lanes.

Race favourite Living The Dream from the stable of two-time winning trainer bagged a strong barrier 4, but he finds himself surrounded by plenty of stayers.

It was three-time Darwin Cup winner Neil Dyer who got the first pick, and his son James was quick to pick out the coveted barrier 1 for Kaonic.

Kaonic is a proven runner over the distance in Darwin placing fourth in 2021, but Dyer, who has won the race twice with Hawks Bay (2011-12) and with Royal Request (2017) knows the Cup is more than the draw.

“We wanted to give him the best barrier we could, as he probably needs all the favours he can get, and luckily he was the first one drawn,” Dyer said.

“He won the Toyota Cup out of barrier 1. Last year was his first time up here and he ran fourth, and he’s on song this year, probably running better than last.

“You’ve got to have the quality horse. It’s a pressure race, so you’ve got to have speed at certain stages of the race, but at the end of it all you’ve got to have the ability to stay.

“The horse from Western Australia, Living The Dream, he looks that quality sort, but hopefully he has a bit of an off day.”

Collin McKenna, Jess Longe and baby Zara Clarke drew barrier 14 for Gary Clarke’s Playoffs. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Champion Darwin trainer Gary Clarke was drawn towards the middle barriers for his two runners, nabbing barrier 7 for Vallabar, while a late call saw Playoffs pushed out to barrier 14.

Clarke is chasing his first Darwin Cup win since lifting the trophy in 2018 with Zahspeed.

“I probably would have liked to come in towards the middle a bit more, but you just have to deal with it. It’s winnable from where he is,” he said.

“They’re both nice horses. Vallabar is a tough old handicapper and Playoffs is an up and coming talented stayer.

“Playoffs probably got better form, but in a race like the Darwin Cup you can’t discount those tough, old horses.

“Hopefully they stretch the field. Hopefully half goes forward and half goes back and gives everybody a chance and the wider horses can slot in.”

Full Barriers:

1: Kaonic (Trainer: Neil Dyer, Jockey: John Keating)

2: Wicked Addiction (Trainer: Kym Healy, Jockey: TBA) (Emergency)

3: Trident (Trainer: Mark Nyhan, Jockey: Sonja Wiseman)

4: Living The Dream (Trainer: Rob Gulberti, Jockey: Brad Rawiler)

5: Dominus (Trainer: Chris Nash, Jockey: TBA) (Emergency)

6: Starouz (Trainer: Angela Forster, Jockey: Sairyn Fawke)

7: Vallabar (Trainer: Gary Clarke, Jockey: Anthony Darmanin)

8: Danon Roman (Trainer: Chris Nash, Jockey: Dean Holland)

9: Saccharo (Trainer: Phil Cole, Jockey: Wayne Davis) (Emergency)

10: Gone Bye (Trainer: Emma Steel, Jockey: Adam Nicholls)

11: Noir De Rue (Trainer: Jason Manning, Jockey: Vanessa Arnott)

12: Our Destrier (Trainer: Kym Hann, Jockey: Stan Tsaikos)

13: I Am The Fox (Trainer: Tayarn Halter, Jockey: Paul Shiers)

14: Playoffs (Trainer: Gary Clarke, Jockey: Jacob Todd)

15: Venting (Trainer: Kerry Petrick, Jockey: Paul Denton)

Originally published as Race favourites spread across the field following 2022 Darwin Cup barrier draw