Wagga trainer Scott Spackman has not let a horror barrier draw dent his confidence too much ahead of Saturday's $150,000 SDRA Country Championships Qualifier (1400m).
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Spackman will be out to claim back-to-back wins in the race and will be represented by defending champion O' So Hazy and talented sprinter Takookacod.
O' So Hazy's task of going back-to-back has been made more difficult by drawing barrier 19. She is set to start from the outside gate in the 16-horse field.
Takookacod did not far much better, coming up with barrier 15.
"I'm gutted," Spackman said.
"Everything you put into it for a small stable to get two live chances in the race then to draw where we've drawn.
"It's not ideal."
Despite the disappointment surrounding the draw, Spackman revealed he is just as confident as last year.
But his confidence lies with Takookacod, a four-year-old mare that returned from injury with a seventh placing in group two company last start.
"Yes. Takookacod is the one," he said.
"We've really concentrated on her this time around. If anything the Kosciuszko got in the way with O' So Hazy.
"I've always been a rap for Takookacod and been in her corner ever since I've had her.
"To be honest, I think O' So Hazy probably overachieved. That's not being disrespectful, but she's overachieved to what I thought she was going to be. She's got a very high cruising speed that mare and she's never disgraced me wherever she's gone.
"Takookacod has never let me down either. We ran her in a group two last start and she surprised a lot of people. She surprised me, and a lot of other people as well."
While bullish about Takookacod, Spackman would not be surprised to see O' So Hazy run a big race first up.
"Don't underestimate the other girl. She's got class, and she's come on leaps and bounds since her trial," he said.
"The barrier hasn't helped. We were going to get a soft 1400, not a hard 1400 but we'll have a look at the speed map and work things out."
Spackman is not as concerned about the barrier for Takookacod.
"I wasn't too concerned because she will get back and can reel off a sectional with the right tempo," he said.
Spackman's stable apprentice Josh Richards will take the ride on Takookacod, while Tamworth-based apprentice Wendy Peel has the job on O' So Hazy.
Spackman has not ruled out a trip to Muswellbrook for the Championships wildcard should things not go his way on Saturday.
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