A shiver went through Darley's jockey Kerrin McEvoy when he picked up barrier 13 for Earthquake in Saturday's Golden Slipper, a feeling punters who have backed the $2.20 favourite would have felt twice during the day when it was also reported she had an elevated temperature.
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Darley trainer Peter Snowden told stewards Earthquake had been treated with a mild antibiotic on Sunday because of temperature, which has returned to normal by Monday. It did, however, delay the Exceed And Excel filly's final gallop for the $3.5 million feature.
''We got a blood picture that showed a higher-than-usual white cell count [on Monday] but we took bloods from her again [on Tuesday] and they came fine in the afternoon,'' Snowden said.
''We won't be taking any risks and we will get blood from her each day for the rest of the week. We waited 24 hours to gallop her just to make sure everything was fine and she will gallop on the [Warwick Farm] course proper at 5am [on Wednesday] morning.''
McEvoy believes Earthquake has the class to overcome the bad draw after he pulled barrier 13 for the second straight time in a barrier draw. No Slipper winner has come from gate 13 but if emergency Scratch Me Lucky comes out as expected Earthquake will go from 12.
''The last one I did was Guelph in the Blue Diamond last year and it was bad as well. It was the same barrier in fact,'' McEvoy said. ''It is a tricky job and the pressure was on. I actually felt more pressure there than I will come race day.
''It is a strange feeling because everyone is looking and you want to draw the right one.''
Snowden watched the draw from home and didn't have a good feeling when McEvoy headed for a magnum of Tooheys New that was left by itself: ''I was saying, 'Don't go there' because it is by itself for a reason,'' he said.
McEvoy has full faith Earthquake can deliver he and Snowden a second Slipper before the trainer leaves Darley at the end of the autumn. His confidence stems from her unbeaten record in four runs, which includes the Blue Diamond.
''The way she has been winning I think she is the best horse in the race,'' McEvoy said. ''I would like to have drawn a little bit better but she has got the class to overcome the barrier. She showed that in the Blue Diamond where she had barrier 15.
''She has taken all before her, it is another big step for her on Saturday, there might a bit of the unknown if the ground is very heavy.
''It looks a bit of a skinny race when it comes to chances as far as winners are concerned. There are not many horses like her that have been dominating their preparations.
''I have the Hawkes filly [Mossfun] down as the one to beat, but we will be all guns blazing.''
James McDonald was pleased to draw inside Earthquake on Mossfun and believes it gives the edge after being beaten 1-1/4 length in the Reisling Stakes a fortnight ago.
Mossfun is the only other runner under double figures and shortened intoo $6 after the draw.
"It is nice. I wanted to [draw] inside Earthquake and we are, so I think that helps," McDonald said. "I will talk to [trainer] John Hawkes and we will come up with a plan and I think we will beat her."
There a number gear changes going into the Slipper Unencumbered will wear blinkers for the first time, Risen From Doubt has the benefit of winnkers, Jabali a tongue tie and Law a cross-over noseband. Snowden has taken the winkers off Memorial after she ran last in them in the Reisling.
