OUR Uncle Sam will have to overcome a tricky barrier seven draw if he is to find glory in Saturday night's Group 1 Ballarat Cup for Bathurst trainer Chris Frisby.
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After taking out the Group 3 Shirley Turnbull Memorial at Bathurst on December 26, Our Uncle Sam was sent to Victoria.
He finished 11th in the Bendigo Cup, having faded in the run home after sitting outside the leader on the bell, then placed fourth in the Shepparton Gold Cup in a race dominated by Lochinvar Art.
While Lochinvar Art will start the hot favourite for the Ballarat Cup after drawing barrier six, Our Uncle Sam has been solid in the $110,000 feature in the past.
Last year Our Uncle Sam placed fourth after copping barrier 11 in the 2,710m feature.
In 2019 he placed a 4.5m fifth, having copped a tricky barrier 10 draw and been one out and three back on the bell. Driver Anthony Frisby said "He went super, he was just a bit too far back".
Getting in a position to challenge for the win, and not expending too much energy to get there, will be crucial if Our Uncle Sam is to threaten in a crack field. He opened as a $41 chance.
Lochinvar Art's trainer-driver David Moran, who's record also includes victory in the Chariots of Fire and Victoria Cup, said he he had pulled up "really good" after his Shepparton Cup run which featured splits of 27.5 and 27.4 seconds in the run.
Wolf Stride is likely to start as second elect from barrier nine, while Sicario got the prime draw and will go from gate one.
