Nash Rawiller admits he would have preferred barrier one to gate 12 for Contentment in Sunday’s Longines Hong Kong Mile but the Australian jockey is counting on his mount’s tactical speed to find the right spot in the HK$23 million race.

On face value, drawing outside main contenders Able Friend and Maurice was a blow for the John Size-trained five-year-old, who has risen impressively through the ranks and faces his toughest test to date.

Yet Rawiller was looking at the positives and will be out to slay those two giants and make the most of the situation with his mount’s versatility.

“I think the draw actually gives me some options. Where my horse has an edge is that he makes his own luck and he can do it out at both ends of the race,” Rawiller said.

“The draw looks tricky but I have full confidence in my bloke that I can use his tactical speed and his adaptability to find the right spot.

“I’m not too concerned. I can come across and have a look at them and see what they are going to do; if it is fast run like it was last year, I won’t have a problem, and it is slowish I can make a decision to press on.

“I will just let my horse be comfortable, and then try to find a spot from there. But whatever I do, for us to be a chance we have to get it tactically 100 per cent right.”

Also giving Rawiller hope is the fact that the last three Mile winners have drawn 10, 13 and 11 – and five of the last six winners have drawn nine or wider.

Contentment has won eight from 11 and last time out beat Able Friend home when second behind upset winner Beauty Flame in the Group Two Jockey Club Mile.

“Able Friend actually got a head in front of us, and I was really happy with the way my horse lifted and got back in front of him over the last 75 metres,” said Rawiller, who is still chasing his first Group One success in Hong Kong.

“I think if we swapped runs, and I had the same run Beauty Flame had, in behind the lead, it might have made the difference and we could have won.”