Kiwi trainer John Bary believes a Group One Queensland Derby win from his promising three-year-old The Hombre will tick all the boxes for a Cox Plate campaign in Melbourne during the spring.Bary's confidence for Saturday's 2400-metre feature hasn't been swayed by The Hombre drawing wide in barrier 18 while the Tony Noonan-trained Kutchinsky drew gate 10.Kutchinsky retained favouritism following the barrier draw at $3.50 with TAB Sportsbet while The Hombre is on the fourth line of betting at $8 w
Kiwi trainer John Bary believes a Group One Queensland Derby win from his promising three-year-old The Hombre will tick all the boxes for a Cox Plate campaign in Melbourne during the spring.
Bary's confidence for Saturday's 2400-metre feature hasn't been swayed by The Hombre drawing wide in barrier 18 while the Tony Noonan-trained Kutchinsky drew gate 10.
Kutchinsky retained favouritism following the barrier draw at $3.50 with TAB Sportsbet while The Hombre is on the fourth line of betting at $8 with the Bart Cummings-trained Landlord.
Kutchinsky came from behind The Hombre to nail the New Zealander in the last few bounds of the Group Three Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) at Doomben last start.
Landlord's stablemate Dariana, who took no part in last Saturday's Group One Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm, is second favourite at $6.50 after drawing the rails.
"The draw is like track conditions. You can't control it," Bary said of The Hombre's barrier.
"He'll have a big long straight and he's got good gate speed to get over early.
"I'm just happy to see the sun out as he'll go better on top of the ground than he did in the Grand Prix last start."
Kutchinsky's place in the Queensland Derby won't be known until Thursday after results from urine tests on the three-year-old and stablemate Ortensia come back from the laboratory.
The pair were tested by Queensland stewards last Saturday after Ortensia returned a positive swab following her win in the Group One The Galaxy at Randwick.
It's still not known what substance led to the positive finding.
Bary is confident The Hombre can turn the tables on Kutchinsky on a firmer surface to give the Kiwi trainer his first Group One since taking out his trainer's licence two years ago.
Bary plans to spell the son of Lucky Owners after the Queensland Derby before bringing him back into work in time for the Group One Kelt Capital Stakes (2000m) at Hastings in October.
"The Kelt will be a good race for him to start off his spring campaign as it's on my back doorstep," Bary said.
"Then he can go over to Melbourne for the spring if he races well.
"If he can win the Derby here it'll tick all the boxes for the Cox Plate in Melbourne.
"I'll give the Melbourne Cup a lot of thought as well and there's a chance he could run in both but I'd prefer the Caulfield Cup as his lead-up race if he runs in the Melbourne Cup.
"Makybe Diva won the Cox Plate the year she won her third Melbourne Cup but my bloke is no Makybe Diva."
Meanwhile, Queensland filly Ringa Ringa Rosie and the Chris Waller-trained Pressday are battling for favouritism following the barrier draw for Saturday's Group One TJ Smith (1600m).
Pressday, winner of the Champagne Classic and Sires' Produce Stakes at his past two starts, is $3.50 favourite after drawing barrier six while Ringa Ringa Rosie is second favourite at $3.80 from gate 10.
Ringa Ringa Rosie, a Chris Munce mount, scored a stunning win in the Listed Hampden Stakes (1200m) at Doomben before her last-start third to Run For Levi in the Listed Doomben Slipper (1350m) last month.
Munce is chasing his second win at the elite level since his return to Australia from Hong Kong two years ago after winning the Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm last Saturday on Kiwi filly Miss Keepsake.