Dye remains confident despite less-than-perfect draw for favourite Joyful Winner
Shane Dye promised a cold ride and a fast late swoop on Joyful Winner in Sunday's Group One Champions Mile despite coming up with a low draw for the probable favourite.
Dye, aided by owner Kong Kin-kuen, drew gate five for Hong Kong's latest racing star in the $8 million international event and confessed the gate was much closer to the inside fence than he preferred. 'I really wanted to draw out further so he could stay out of trouble in the early stages,' Dye said. 'But five is still okay. He'll be well back and I make my way out from there.'
Dye has enjoyed a great association with Joyful Winner but missed the ride on the Australian-bred galloper last start when connections opted for megastar Christophe Soumillon in the Group One Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m).
One start earlier, Dye learned the hard way about making early use of the gelding's tactical speed when Joyful Winner was beaten as an odds-on favourite, behind stablemate Art Trader, in the Group Two Chairman's Trophy.
'He's an outstanding horse, no doubt about that, and he really suits my style of riding,' Dye said. 'John [Moore] has done a wonderful job with the horse and he's improved with every run - he hits the line so well.'
By the time John Size was asked to select a barrier for his outstanding prospect Danacourt, there were only two possibilities remaining - eight or 12. Lucky eight was left for Perfect Partner (Olivier Doleuze) and Danacourt will start from the second-outside stall in the field of 13.