The barrier draw for the 2023 Sydney Cup has been completed and Joseph O’Brien trained favourite Cleveland was dealt a cruel hand with gate number 17. In what looms as the most anticipated Sydney Cup in memory the only low point is the expected wet track come Saturday, 8th April. The full field and barrier draw can be found below.
| 1. GOLD TRIP (FRA) | Maher/Eustace | 59.5KG | B: 16 |
| 2. KNIGHTS ORDER (IRE) | Waterhouse/Bott | 56.5KG | B: 12 |
| 3. BARON SAMEDI (GB) | J. O’Brien | 55KG | B: 20 |
| 4. STOCKMAN (NZ) | J. Pride | 54.5KG | B: 5 |
| 5. ARAPAHO (FRA) | B. Baker | 53KG | B: 8 |
| 6. SELINO (GB) | C. Waller | 53KG | B: 14 |
| 7. SUREFIRE (GB) | C. Waller | 52.5KG | B: 6 |
| 8. EXPLOSIVE JACK (NZ) | Maher/Eustace | 52.5KG | B: 4 |
| 9. SIR LUCAN (IRE) | Waterhouse/Bott | 51.5KG | B: 15 |
| 10. TORRENS (AUS) | M. Chevalier | 51.5KG | B: 1 |
| 11. CLEVELAND (IRE) | J. O’Brien | 51KG | B: 17 |
| 12. HIGH EMOCEAN (NZ) | Maher/Eustace | 51KG | B: 19 |
| 13. AMADE (IRE) | P. Stokes | 51KG | B: 10 |
| 14. KING FRANKEL (IRE) | M. Newnham | 50KG | B: 11 |
| 15. NERVE NOT VERVE (NZ) | M. Moroney | 50KG | B: 2 |
| 16. GIN MARTINI (NZ) | J. Sargent | 50KG | B: 18 |
| 17. TIMOUR (FRA) | C. Waller | 50KG | B: 3 |
| 18. ALAKAHAN (IRE) | Maher/Eustace | 50KG | B: 13 |
| 19. PESTO (GB) | M, W & J Hawkes | 50KG | B: 9 |
| 20. TRUE MARVEL (FRA) | M. Smith | 50KG | B: 7 |
Over the weekend of 1st April when Day 1 of The Championships (of horse racing) was being run the Sydney Cup was given a huge boost to its credibility when 2022 Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip was declared a runner. Training team Ciaron Maher and David Eustace altered their original plans of running the entire in the 2000m Queen Elizabeth Stakes, instead opting for another gruelling 2 Mile slugfest. The 6 year old entire drew barrier 16 so it will be a monster feat if he can carry 59.5KG to victory from his wide gate.
Honest 8 year old Knights Order is the defending champion and likely pacesetter from barrier 12. Other potential frontrunners are Sir Lucan from barrier 15 and Nerve Not Verve (barrier 2). On pace types True Marvel and Torrens should see their chances enhanced by decent gates of 7 and 1 respectively.
The skies are predicted to be blue and the track drying out on raceday but expected rainfall leading up to the race means the Cup will likely be run on a Soft to Heavy surface (meteorologists have been known to be wrong).
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