Barrier Issue For Irish Star Slade Power

Slade Power's barrier problems have resurfaced at Flemington with the Irish horse acting up before a scheduled familiarisation gallop on Tuesday.

The horse wears a hood which was apparently removed too soon and he became agitated before cantering down the straight.

Trainer Eddie Lynam said Slade Power had behaved himself in Europe this year where he is always loaded last.

Slade Power.Slade Power.

That is not something that is in the Australian rules but it is something Lynam had been led to believe would happen in the Darley Classic on Saturday week and he will discuss with officials.

"We put a hood on him and he goes in late. He's very well behaved and when he goes in last, the starter says ready and you pull the hood off and he jumps out good," Lynam said.

"Today when they pulled the hood off. Whether there was a delay or whatever happened, the horse got upset and messed up in the gate so we just gave him a canter up and hopefully he's OK.

"We've had a wake-up call.

"From the minute he was coming over here I was led to believe he would go in last so I think if anyone was going to have a bet on him, I wouldn't back him if he doesn't go in last."

The winner of the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot and the July Cup, Slade Power will have his final start in the Group One sprint at Flemington before beginning duties at the sponsor's stud.

After fielding questions about the horse going to the barriers last, Lynam backed down a little.

"We were kindly invited over here and when in Rome ... so we'll have a chat with them and see what way it will work," he said.

The way it usually works in Australia is for the horses to be loaded from the inside out.

The barrier issue aside, Lynam is more than happy to be in Australia to line up against the local sprinters.

"We are under no illusions we playing away from home against the best team in the world," he said.

"In Europe we consider the Australian sprinters the best in the world.

"We think he is the best sprinter in Europe. He is not ground dependent and is tactically very good."