For trainer Chris Waller the Apollo Stakes is a tale of two barriers with his hopes to jump from opposite ends of the stalls.Rangirangdoo comes out of gate one and is also number one with punters while second favourite Danleigh has to contend with the outside alley, 13.Waller admits the task for Danleigh won't be easy but hopes a bigger field than contested the Expressway will ensure a more solid pace.Only five horses contested the Expressway on February 6 with Rangirangdoo victorious and Danlei
For trainer Chris Waller the Apollo Stakes is a tale of two barriers with his hopes to jump from opposite ends of the stalls.
Rangirangdoo comes out of gate one and is also number one with punters while second favourite Danleigh has to contend with the outside alley, 13.
Waller admits the task for Danleigh won't be easy but hopes a bigger field than contested the Expressway will ensure a more solid pace.
Only five horses contested the Expressway on February 6 with Rangirangdoo victorious and Danleigh in last place, 1-1/2 lengths away.
"It's a difficult barrier for Danleigh," Waller said.
"I don't want him to be dictated to but it will be hard for him if he gets back and has to circle them to try to win.
"He'll just have to be ridden for luck."
Danleigh is a star in the Waller stable with two Group One wins to his credit, the All-Aged Stakes and the Manikato Stakes.
Rangirangdoo is a star in the making boasting an impressive stakes record with wins in the Group Three Tramway Handicap and Group Two Crystal Mile in addition to his Expressway victory.
He also ran the closest of seconds to Rock Kingdom in last year's Epsom Handicap.
"Barrier one is perfect for Rangirangdoo," Waller said.
"He has good gate speed and they will have to work to cross him.
"If something wants to lead that's fine and he can just get a nice sit running about third.
"He is a horse on the way up and still has to prove himself at the highest level while Danleigh is already an A-grader.
"He's done it at the top level, it's just a shame about the barrier because it makes it difficult."
Danleigh has yet to win beyond the 1400 metres of the Apollo but has been placed at 1600 metres as a two-year-old in the Group One TJ Smith Stakes in Brisbane and again at three in the Queensland Guineas.
The stablemates are both entered for the Doncaster (1600m) but Waller is reserving the option to bring Danleigh back in distance if he shows he is better suited as a sprinter this campaign.
Rangirangdoo is firmly treading a path to the Doncaster on April 17 and is already favourite for the famous race.
Long-range plans include a tilt at the Cox Plate with Waller likely to run him over 2000 metres at least once this autumn, possibly in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
He was tried over the distance at the end of his spring campaign when he ran four lengths seventh in the Mackinnon Stakes won by Scenic Shot.
Corey Brown will be aboard Rangirangdoo in the Apollo with Hugh Bowman to ride Danleigh.
Rock Kingdom is on the third line of betting with McClintock while TAB Sportsbet has star South Australian Alcopop at $17.
AJC Australian Derby winner and Caulfield Cup runner-up Roman Emperor is at $51 with trainer Bart Cummings opting to keep him in Sydney rather than pay up the second acceptance for the Australian Cup at Flemington.