Gun jockeys Joao Moreira and Tommy Berry, on Sunday, have the responsibility of riding the nominal favourites in the two international Group 1 races at Sha Tin and neither felt their prospects were diminished at today’s barrier draw when their respective mounts each drew gate six.

Berry rides Chautauqua, currently the world’s top rated sprinter, in the HK$10 million Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) while the all Hong Kong conquering Moreira joins forces with the Japanese to ride Maurice in the HK$14 million Champions Mile (1600m).

“The gate is not too bad, in fact it’s good in my opinion. He’s going to find it much easier to find a position with cover from there than he had to do in December,” Moreira said of Maurice who drew barrier 11 when he won the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile in December.

Berry similarly sees gate six as desirable for Chautauqua, who in further coincidence won from gate 11 - like Maurice - at his previous start. “He’s not going to get locked away on the fence from there. It’s good. We all know he’s going to settle back and I can let him do his thing from there. I realise it won’t be easy coming from a long way back but I won’t be any closer early than the horse wants to be.”

Moreira also rides the promising Thewizardofoz in the Sprint while Berry partners Rewarding Hero in the Mile as both chase a first win in either race. Thewizardofoz drew gate nine in the 14-strong Chairman’s Sprint Prize field which prompted Moreira to say “it could have been worse,” adding, “I’m actually not too disappointed with the gate. He has a chance from that gate, with a little bit of luck. He’s a horse I believe has a Group 1 win in him. It could be Sunday but whatever he does this time it’s only a matter of time until he gets it done.”

Delighted to draw gate three in the Sprint was Robert Heathcote, trainer of the second Australian runner Buffering. “I wanted four but three will do,” Heathcote said, with a smile, after Buffering was the last horse to be drawn.

“The speed is largely outside us and we might have had to work a fair bit harder had he drawn out. I’m very happy with three and happy for Buffering to lead as he’s got a high cruising speed and he’s a hard horse to get passed,” Heathcote said.

Local galloper Lucky Bubbles drew gate one, in the Sprint, which pleased trainer Francis Lui. “I’m happy with the low draw, it means he can get cover. I’m very pleased with his preparation, he was impressive in his last win and he seems to have recovered well from that. He keeps improving all the time and he will need to again because he is facing top horses for the first time.”

Richard Gibson was pleased with gate five for last year’s Sprint winner Gold-Fun who again tackles the 1200m race and is unperturbed about gate nine for Giant Treasure in the Mile. “Perfect for Gold-Fun who can be parked just behind the speed and with Giant Treasure’s nine, I’m not too perturbed. There’ll be good speed on I expect and he’ll have clear air and something to run at,” Gibson said.

Packing Pins, trying a mile for just the second time, drew gate one which pleased trainer Ricky Yiu. He said: “The low gate is not a bad thing, I’m happy with that. He can find cover from there, which he needs at the mile.”