Draw saves scratching

An auspicious barrier draw has saved Capel galloper Colour Correct from being scratched for Saturday’s $400,000 Perth Cup (2400m), according to co-trainer Clint Price.

Yesterday, the leading South West stallion drew gate six for the Group 2 staying feature, but is likely to run start from five after emergency runner Kawatiri drew barrier one.

The favourable draw served as a much-needed boost in what had been an otherwise impeded Cup preparation for the six-year-old.

Earlier this week, Colour Correct had his handicap increased by 1.5kg to be 57kg top weight for the race after interstate runners Triple Honour (59.kg) and Capecover (57kg) were absent from the final declarations of 16.

Clint, who trains Colour Correct with his father Ross, said the pair were seriously considering pulling their star out of the Cup if it had drawn poorly.

‘‘It saved him, we were actually considering possibly taking him out of the race if he drew a really bad barrier,’’ Clint said.

‘‘A bad barrier, coupled with the weight, would basically give him no chance of winning the race at all.’’

Colour Correct, who is the highest rated runner for the race on 103, was the victim of his barnstorming recent successes when he had his load increased to meet the requirement for a 57kg top weight while others on the 52kg minimum, including race favourite Ranger, remained unaltered.

This season Colour Correct has announced himself as one of the most consistent players on the State racing landscape.

With experienced jockey Paul Harvey at the reins the stallion has won a swag of metropolitan features including the $125,000 Asian Beau Stakes, the $80,000 Ascot Gold Cup and the $225,000 Cox Stakes.

Should Colour Correct cap his season with a victory in the Cup on Saturday, he would join an elite group of gallopers that have claimed both the Cox Stakes and Perth Cup in a season —a feat achieved by only six horses in the past quarter of a century.

‘‘It would be great to knock up a milestone like that, not too many other horses have done it,’’ Clint said.

‘‘He’s already done a good job with a Group 2 win, a Group 3 win, a listed win and a couple of places in listed races.

‘‘If he could win this it would just be the icing on the cake.’’