Barnes Confident Of Strong Bathurst Cup Showing

AN ideal box draw has Dennis Barnes confident that Nangar Diva is primed for a big race breakthrough in Friday night's Ladbrokes Bathurst Gold Cup Final (520m).

Drawn box two for the $25,000 to-the-winner finale, Nangar Diva qualified with a narrow second behind Solar Sky in Monday's heats, the winner – a sister to race favourite Good Odds Harada – stopping the clock in 29.99.

"She's a chance in the final; she needed the box draw to go her way and with the two it has," Barnes explained.

"We've had no luck with her and box draws in big finals – whenever she makes one she draws five or six and when you are racing dogs of this level it just makes the world of difference.

"I didn't go to Bathurst on Monday but I said to (wife) Ann that if she makes the final to make sure she came home with a decent box. And she did so we're in with a chance."

Surprisingly, Cudal based Barnes hasn't tasted Bathurst success, a set of circumstances he hopes to remedy on Friday night with Nangar Diva, winner at 12 of her 38 starts.

"I've had a few finalists over the years but no I haven't won one; if I had I'm sure I'd remember," quipped Barnes.

Beteasy has installed Nangar Diva the $6.50 third favourite for Friday night's group 3 final, the daughter of Fabregas chasing her maiden group race victory at her fifth time of asking.

Interestingly, her four previous group race appearances have seen her go down to some pretty esteemed company, twice behind Feral Franky and twice behind Sennachie.

"She's trier … I'll give her that … and when her racing days are over I'll definitely breed with her," Barnes added.

"Her hang up can be that she's hit and miss at the jump. If she gets the start right on Friday and there's some trouble with the ones drawn wide then she's a chance. She's won at Bathurst in 29.68 and if she runs up to that it might be good enough to win it.

"Solar Sky could be the key to the race. She loves Bathurst and usually begins and heads right a bit. If she does then a couple of the better chances out wide might get strung up early. My bitch loves the fence, she rails like you wouldn't believe … box two for her is perfect."

Setting the pace from Monday's heats was the Frank Hurst-trained Good Odds Harada, the Million Dollar Chase winner recording 29.71 to maintain his unblemished Bathurst record.

Drawn box six for the Ladbrokes-sponsored final, Beteasy has installed the son of Collision the $1.90 favourite, ahead of ultra-impressive 29.85 heat winner Shima Breeze at $3.40.

Trained by Rob Camilleri, Shima Breeze, placed at group race level on three occasions, will exit box seven for Friday night's final, the daughter of Fernando Bale clocking a sizzling 4.15 first section in Monday's comfortable heat win.

"I can't ever remember seeing one run 4.15 early – it'd have to be the record," Barnes said.

"I'm surprised there's that big a difference between the two of them in the market. It's a really good race which is great for the club; they've put on a great night of racing so hopefully there's a big crowd being a Friday night."

Victorian trainer Rob Camilleri will be represented by two runners in Friday night's finale with warhorse chaser Slingshot Hammer drawing box four at what will be his 11th appearance at group race level.