Trainer Tony Gollan can vouch for the importance of inside barriers after Perudo‘s narrow victory in the Listed Bill Carter Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.
From barrier three, Perudo ($6.50) enjoyed a cosy trail in fourth place on the fence before jockey Brad Stewart brought her with a well-timed finish to win by a short-half head.
By contrast, Gem Of Scotland ($4.40) raced three wide from her wide gate but still charged home to finish second, with Niedorp ($16), a stablemate of the winner, a half neck away third.
Gollan will pursue more black-type goals for Perudo during the winter carnival, with the Listed Oxlade Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on June 1 her next target.
“I was pretty confident she was on song for this race and when she drew the good gate I knew she would be the one to beat,” Gollan said.
“I had three fillies in the race with very little between them. It was just the barriers that made the difference.
“Niedorp was great. She had to sit outside the leader and if you reversed the barriers and positions in running it probably would’ve been the reverse result.”
California Zimbol was heavily backed from $3.30 into $2.60 favouritism but was forced to race three wide without cover before weakening in the final stages to finish fifth.