INSIDE barriers are normally an advantage but Ben Hayes has concerns about Furrion drawing barrier one in Thursday's $250,000 Sungold Milk Warrnambool Cup.
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Darren Weir trained the last five consecutive Warrnambool Cup winners and put the polish on Furrion before he was outed for four years in February.
Furrion, who is the hot favourite for the 2350 metre race, has had three starts for the powerful Hayes-Dabernig combination.
"The Warrnambool Cup looks an ideal race for Furrion at this stage of his preparation," Ben Hayes said.
"We're just not really sure how it will play out drawing the inside gate for the 29th race of a three-day carnival. The worry is the inside part of the track may be a no-go zone by that stage of the carnival.
"We're very happy with the fitness of Furrion. John Allen has ridden Furrion before for a win and he's got the ride. Our instruction to John will be to jump and hold his position.
"We'll need a bit of luck in the run but we're confident Furrion will be good enough to win.
"I don't think it's the strongest Warrnambool Cup field and going on our unlucky second placing in the Easter Cup last time we're entitled to be the favourite. It's obvious he's a pretty good horse having won six of his 12 starts."
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Furrion is the $2.80 favourite in the early betting markets with the TAB.
Sheezdashing trained by Flemington trainers Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra has strong support after running fifth in the Easter Cup at her last run. She is a $5.50 chance to give the Ellerton-Zahra stable their biggest win at a Warrnambool carnival.
Tony McEvoy lines up a two-pronged attack Light The Waves and Divanation to win the flat race feature for the carnival.
Meanwhile, Warrnambool trainer Aaron Purcell concedes he's relying on the weather gods to get his imported galloper Instigator a victory.
"Instigator needs it wet," Purcell said. "We just have not had much luck with our Warrnambool Cup runners in the past. Instigator is having his first serious preparation for us.
"We're confident with time he'll develop into a good horse."
The TAB rate Instigator as a $61 chance to win the second last race of the carnival.
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