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By Ray Hickson

Just Party’s chances of notching an overdue win at Randwick on Saturday hinges to a large degree on how the colt handles the start.

Trainer Sterling Alexiou

So says co-trainer Sterling Alexiou and he said drawing barrier one in the Group 2 $1 million Catanach’s Jewellers Callander-Presnell (1600m) only serves to highlight the importance of a clean getaway for the horse.

The three-year-old was casual early before rushing home along the fence and just failing to run down Anode in the Tapp-Craig two weeks ago so Alexiou doesn’t want to be giving that horse as much start in their return clash.

“He’s just so laid back. Jay (Ford) did a couple of things to try and spark a bit of interest behind the gates the other day, to keep him moving,’’ Alexiou said on Sky Sports Radio.

“When he’s loaded early he said he never feels like at any stage he’s going to jump with them.

“You don’t want to be handing away big starts in decent races, you’re at a handicap to start with, so if he can jump and have at least a few behind him it’s going to go a long way to making his job a bit easier.”

Just Party has won one of his seven starts and he’s been to the mile twice for a third behind Broadsiding and El Castello in the Fernhill back in April and two starts back, when he actually jumped okay, ran fourth behind Swiftfalcon in the Dulcify.

He ran 33.75 (Punter’s Intelligence) for his last 600m in the Tapp-Craig, nearly four lengths faster than the next best, and an 11.18 final 200m.

“He was back in trip off a quick back up that day,’’ Alexiou said.

“He can dwell at the start a bit which is a worry this week so barrier one is probably not the ideal gate for him.”

Talented mare Arctic Glamour drew the other end of the spectrum in the Group 2 $2 million The Invitation (1400m) when she came up with the outside barrier.

Her jockey Kerrin McEvoy has won every edition of the race so far but if he’s to guide the four-year-old home on Saturday it’ll have to be from back in the field.

“We’re really happy with her, just devastated after the barrier draw,’’ he said.

“It forces your hand with her, she’s going to be back in the last three or four and is going to need the right drag into the race.”

It’s been just over a year since Arctic Glamour’s latest win, she beat Joliestar in the Reginald Allen last spring, but she was gallant beaten two lengths by Ceolwulf in the Epsom Handicap.

“She’s flying, was really good in the Epsom,’’ he said.

“We rode her a bit closer than we normally do with the light weight but I thought she acquitted herself well.”

Alexiou, along with co-trainer Gerald Ryan, has been patient with three-year-old Amazing Eagle who makes his season debut in the Listed $200,000 Schweppes Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m).

The colt has been placed in all three starts including the Group 3 Black Opal back in April and Alexiou said when he puts everything together he could be a smart galloper.

Just Party runs second at Rosehill on October 12

“He’s coming up really well, I thought he’s trialled well on both occasions,’’ he said.

“He mentally hasn’t quite got there, he’s still a bit of a baby. Those little one per-centers in the past he hasn’t quite executed properly and it’s cost him races.

“If he can get a bit of luck in the first half of the race and Tyler (Schiller) can find a nice spot he will take a bit of holding out.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting