Castillo King faces tough Run To The Rose draw

Just under two months after his debut race, Castillo King is slated to compete against the elite of his age group in the Run To The Rose. Jockey Tommy Berry is optimistic about the colt's chances, contingent on a key factor.

For the 1200m sprint this Saturday, the Michael Freedman-trained three-year-old has drawn the 12th gate in a field of 13. In a competitive line-up featuring Group 1-winning juveniles Fireball and Tron Bolt, Berry emphasised the necessity of Castillo King having some fortune early in the race.

"We had to ride him quiet from a poor alley last start and we were hoping he drew well this start because we wanted to be prominent on him," Berry commented. "I'm just disappointed with the draw. I still wouldn't think, this weekend, we'd ride him quiet, only for the fact he is there to run well.

"He's been working well, so we'd want to still be positive on him and hope for a bit of luck. If we get the luck, he's going to be right in the finish."

Castillo King, who secured a notable win at Warwick Farm on debut in July, settled towards the rear of the field when making headway for fourth behind Chilly Girl in the Rosebud (1100m) last month.

The trainer, Freedman, has chosen to manage the colt's race starts, and Berry indicated that the colt possesses an athletic physique, making him well-suited to contest the Run To The Rose fresh.

"He's not a big, gross horse so we weren't worried about the month between runs with him," he said. "He's working really well at home. He had a few days in the paddock after his last run and he's spot-on.

"He'll have no excuses on the weekend bar bad luck, but if we get a bit of luck in the first furlong, I guarantee he'll be in the finish."

While Berry has guided Castillo King in his two prior outings, he is set to partner Hidrix for the first time in the Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m), another key three-year-old feature.

Hidrix, a winner of the Canonbury Stakes (1100m), returned with a respectable fifth against more experienced horses in benchmark grade last month. Berry believes the barrier four draw for Hidrix is advantageous, offering him every opportunity.

"The barrier is probably imperative so he can get a nice run behind the speed," he explained. "His run was really good first-up when he went back to the inferior ground on the inside.

"I saw him the other morning and he's in great order. He'll appreciate the step up in distance as well."

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