NSW REPRESENTATIVE FARES POORLY IN VIC CUP DRAW

The lone New South Wales representative in Friday night's Victoria Cup, Cant Bluff Me has drawn the second row and will start from barrier eleven. While the gate is not ideal, regular driver Jim Douglass is just happy the six year old gelding gained a start in the group 1 feature after an unlucky fifth in the Treuer Memorial at Bankstown on Saturday night.

"It's great that he got into the field" Douglass said.

"We were hoping and had our fingers crossed but to get the run in the Victoria Cup is very pleasing."

Cant Bluff Me was controversially omitted from the Miracle Mile last month despite finishing second to Karloo Mick in the final lead–up race, the Cordina Sprint. Trainer Ian Wilson opted to miss the Bohemia Crystal Free For All on Miracle Mile day and concentrate on the Bankstown race and the Victoria Cup. Douglass believes had he got a clear run in the Treuer Memorial he would have finished a lot closer.

"At the 600 metres I looked up and there were a couple stopping in front of me and Washakie and Karloo Mick were just getting further and further away so my hopes did look forlorn at that stage."

"When I got through the middle I thought we were still some sort of hope especially when I was following Western Cam but unfortunately he couldn't take me right into the race so I had to switch around him and never got out until the last little bit and he was full of running."

The Victoria Cup will be the horse's third run in Grand Circuit company and Douglass is confident that Cant Bluff Me can repeat his effort from the Queensland Pacing Championship when he finished second to Blacks A Fake.

"He has put in a couple of very good performances since he has joined Ian's stable. His first run on the Grand Circuit behind Blacks A Fake was outstanding, he got a long way back that night and we were forced to do a lot of chasing and he was very brave to get so close."

"His run in the Cordina Sprint was very good too when he was forced to come four or five wide on the home turn and only narrowly went down behind Karloo Mick."

Douglass still has to pinch himself that he is associated with a horse that has given him the opportunity to drive against the very best in Australasia so early in his driving career.

"He has come along at the perfect time in my career."

"When Ian was first asked to take the horse we were pretty excited about the whole thing and he has never let us down and if anything he has just got better and better."

"We never thought we would make a Victoria Cup let alone be a chance with a bit of luck."

Tab Sportsbet have rated the six year old a $31 chance on Friday night behind early $2.30 favourite Smoken Up. Douglass thinks the depth in this year's Victoria Cup might actually be a bonus for Cant Bluff Me.

"The quality of the field is a good thing for us on Friday night."

"One of the biggest problems we have had in recent starts is that we have been behind horses that haven't been able to take us into the race. This week every horse will be able to take him into the race and every time we have thrown him in against the good horses he has excelled himself."

"If he gets the right run we think he can match it with anything, we don't think he is better than the good ones but we think he is as good as them."

The Victoria Cup is race 8 at Tabcorp Park Melton on Friday and is scheduled to begin at 9:40pm.

GADSBY HOPING FOR DEJA VU

While Smoken Up might be trained in Victoria by Lance Justice, the seven year old gelding is owned by a New South Wales syndicate headed up by businessman Peter Gadsby. The Sydney real estate agent is no stranger to feature race wins having owned Double Identity during his illustrious career which included a victory in the 2003 Victoria Cup.

Double Identity broke the one million dollar prizemoney barrier when he scored a track record win at Moonee Valley in the Victoria Cup and Gadsby is hoping his pacing star Smoken Up can do the same this Friday night.

Smoken Up has banked $900,866 so far in his career and with $270,000 going to the Victoria Cup winner, the son of Tinted Cloud is expected to break the milestone with the bookmakers installing the gelding a $2.30 favourite after he drew barrier one for the Victorian feature.

Gadsby will not be attending on Friday night because he believes he is bad luck for Smoken Up.

"I was there when he finished second in the Miracle Mile and the Hunter Cup and third in the Inter Dominion and New Zealand Cup so I have worked out that I am definitely not his lucky charm" Gadsby said.

"The syndicate will be represented at Tabcorp Park on Friday night with Alex Kay and his son Ryan attending to cheer Smoken Up on."

Surprisingly Gadsby won't be drawn upon which is the best horse that he has owned.

"It would be between Double Identity and Smoken Up but how do you compare the two?"

"Smoken Up is so tough and goes forward in his races while Double Identity was a bit more versatile and could race from in front or come from behind."

"At the same stage of their careers Double Identity had won more feature races but who is to say what Smoken Up could win in the next twelve months."

Smoken Up has won two group 1 races in his career, capturing the 2008 South Australia Cup before adding the Len Smith Mile to his record five months later at Menangle.