Draw no barrier for Savanna Amour

Ben Melham will have to weave his magic from a wide barrier on Savanna Amour in the Tristarc Stakes.

Everything is in order for Savanna Amour ahead of another Caulfield start, except a woeful barrier.

A three-time winner at Caulfield from four starts, Savanna Amour runs in Saturday’s Tristarc Stakes (1400m) from barrier 14.

Trainer Chris Meagher couldn’t hide his disappointment at the draw and said it would be up to Ben Melham to weave some magic.

“It is what it is,” Meagher said.

“Hopefully we can go forward and get across.

“We don’t necessarily want to lead but ideally you’d be wanting to be running third, fourth or fifth, with some cover, but I’ll have to leave that to young Benny.”

Savanna Amour overcame a wide draw when successful in the How Now Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on September 23 and Meagher is not concerned about the four week gap since her last start.

He said Savanna Amour took a few days to get over that win but has had three course proper gallops on her home track at Mornington before a trip to Caulfield on Tuesday morning.

“Ben said she actually felt better than prior to her last win so that was positive,” Meagher said.

“I’m really looking forward to Saturday apart from the barrier but that’s something we can’t change.”

With the Group One Myer Stakes (1600m) at Flemington her target on November 4, Meagher carefully mapped out a program bypassing the Blazer Stakes at Flemington on October 7 in which a number of her rivals on Saturday raced.

“Giving her two 1200-metre runs and then a 1400-metre race with the Myer her target we thought it might be too much,” Meagher said.

“She’s better on the fresh side and that’s the way she is for Saturday.”

Savanna Amour is again at double figure odds after successive Caulfield 1200m victories where she started at $15 each time.

On Saturday she’s a $14 chance with Sydney mare Foxplay the $4.20 favourite.