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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Tim Donnelly has a simple message for those who like his promising stayer Kitzbuhel in Saturday’s $130,000 Drinkwise Country Classic (2000m) but are put off by barrier 21 – it’s actually a boost to his chances.

Owner Richard Pegum and trainer Tim Donnelly after Kitzbuhel's Highway win. (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The logic used by the Wagga trainer is based on plenty of experience with front-runners – he recalls his former star Quick Flick beating Might And Power from gate 14 in the 1997 Shannon Stakes – that a wide barrier is not always bad news.

With five emergencies he'll jump from no closer than 16 if it's an 18 horse field but Kitzbuhel’s racing style is to lead or be right on pace and to use his greatest asset, his stamina.

“On speed horses from wide barriers, it’s better for him,’’ Donnelly said.

“I was more concerned about drawing one the other day than drawing wide for Saturday.

“If something crossed him early the other day all of a sudden he’s in a spot he’s never been in. If you’re third or fourth the fence you can’t get going when you want to.”

That’s the key to Kitzbuhel’s chances in the country feature and jockey Tim Clark, a master of rating horses in front, used it to advantage in winning an 1800m Highway at Randwick two weeks ago.

Donnelly said he expects the English bred five-year-old, $8 second favourite with TAB on Friday, to be positioned in a stalking role off the fence with recent Cootamundra Cup winner Zakeriz likely to lead.

“He’s got no turn of foot but he is a good stayer,’’ he said.

“If you can get the other horses chasing a long way from home it takes them out of their comfort zone. He will keep going. That’s how we rode him in his two wins last preparation.

“I’m not too concerned about the wide gate, obviously 10 would have been better, but it’s Tim Clark’s problem not mine.”

Kitzbuhel was a February foal so while he’s listed as a five-year-old he’s still three months away from turning five so Donnelly is excited about what might be ahead.

He’s won three of his six starts since arriving in Australia, including one each on soft and heavy ground, and given he’s owned by Richard Pegum you’d imagine a race like the Wagga Gold Cup next year could be on the radar.

Donnelly isn’t getting ahead of himself yet, the plan at this stage is to head to a 2000m Benchmark 78 race at Kembla Grange’s Gong meeting on November 20 if he wins again.

“He’s only lightly raced and only turned four early in the year to English time,’’ he said.

“It’s been a good thing for him he’s been able to go through the two country races then the Highway, it’s helped him develop.

“I don’t like to give away weight so to get in on the limit in the Wagga Cup you’d need a 90 rater. There’s no reason why he wouldn’t get there but he’d need to keep improving.”

Kitzbuhel wins at Randwick on October 23

Clark said on Sky Sports Radio on Thursday that the 2000m start at Rosehill afford him a run of about 400m to the first turn which should allow sufficient time to find a forward spot.

Like Donnelly, he doesn’t expect to lead with Zakeriz in the race but other than that he’ll be aiming to test his rivals’ intestinal fortitude as he did at Randwick.

“I know what to expect from him, he’s a strong stayer and I think he had a bit of improvement to come off the other day,’’ Clark said.

“He’ll just work forward, I won’t rush him too much, and allow him to slide at his own tempo.

“He’s the sort of horse you can’t wait for them to get to you, you’ve got to make them chase you. I’ll look to do something similar on Saturday and make it a staying test.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Rosehill meeting