Jockey Mark Pegus has dismissed an awkward barrier draw as a hindrance to the winning chances of Gold Salute in the Toorak Handicap.The in-form six-year-old is on a mission to set the record straight after he was favoured to win his first Group One in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes before getting tangled in the gates and declared a non-runner three weeks ago.A week later he put his Toorak campaign back on track by winning the Zambari Handicap (1440m) at Caulfield and Pegus expects him to be at his

Jockey Mark Pegus has dismissed an awkward barrier draw as a hindrance to the winning chances of Gold Salute in the Toorak Handicap.

The in-form six-year-old is on a mission to set the record straight after he was favoured to win his first Group One in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes before getting tangled in the gates and declared a non-runner three weeks ago.

A week later he put his Toorak campaign back on track by winning the Zambari Handicap (1440m) at Caulfield and Pegus expects him to be at his top on Saturday.

"The draw won't matter to him," Pegus said.

He said that with two runs under his belt since winning the Listed Winter Championship Final (1600m) at Flemington in July, the freshness was out of Gold Salute and he was primed to show his explosive acceleration.

"He has got a great turn of foot, especially when he gets out to a trip because he does relax well and drifts back," Pegus said.

"From his gate he will settle midfield and we will take it from there."

Pegus has been a major factor in the emergence of Gold Salute who has posted four wins and a second at his last five starts.

"He has always had good ability, but since I won on him in a heat of the Winter Championship in June he has kept improving." Pegus said.

"It was unfortunate he got his leg over the gates in the Sir Rupert Clarke and we will never know whether he would have won, but he did beat (Rupert Clarke winner) Turffontein at his previous start.

"This is the race he has been set for and he drops 6kg to 53.5kg after his win last start so has to be a good chance."

Gold Salute would also create some quirky history should he win the Toorak as another Gold Salute won the feature 69 years ago.

Foaled in 1936, the first Gold Salute was a consistent feature-race performer and apart from winning the 1940 Toorak he also had victories in the AJC The Shorts, VRC Cantala Stakes, AJC All-Aged Stakes, 1941 QTC Kings Plate and 1943 AJC Challenge Stakes.

The Mark Riley-trained Gold Salute is the only ride for Pegus on Saturday and is on the third line of betting at $8.50.

Stradbroke Handicap winner Black Piranha and last week's Listed Herald-Sun Stakes winner Raheeb head the TAB Sportsbet chart at $5.50 from Sir Rupert Clarke third placegetter Raffaello ($6).