Post position draws are almost always critical for a 1200m dash like Sunday's KrisFlyer International Sprint, but no outcome was as intriguing and eagerly-awaited as the alleys to be picked by the race's two main drawcards - TAKEOVER TARGET (pictured at track this morning) and ROCKET MAN.

As it turned out, the draw ceremony, which was held at the Tropics Atrium at Suntec City on May 14, yielded contrasting fortunes for the two rival camps.

While barrier No 3 put a big smile on TAKEOVER TARGET's trainer Joe Janiak, trainer Patrick Shaw was obviously less excited with ROCKET MAN's No 9 - which also sent a collective moan of disappointment among the partisan local crowd, all rooting for the unbeaten Singapore star.

Jay Ford, who left Singapore in January to return to race riding in Australia, was as expected pleased as punch.

"He's a jump-and-run horse who will be on top of the speed throughout," said Ford.

"He's had a good solid preparation behind him and although he's getting older he's not slowing down."

Janiak could not hide his delight when he picked the ideal number in the draw. The Australian champion jumped from barrier No 2 when successful in the KrisFlyer Sprint last year.

"It's the perfect draw," said Janiak. "He's fit and well and Jay should be able to get a good run on him."

While everything was rosy in the TAKEOVER TARGET camp, Shaw was left deflated after drawing barrier No 9 for ROCKET MAN who has never drawn worse than five in his seven runs.

"Yes, I'm disappointed with the draw but we have to move on now," said Shaw philosophically. "We have to take it like a man and take it from there,"

"Everyone would love to draw between one and six. I suppose it could have been worse, he could have drawn out in 14.

"I'll just have to leave it up to (jockey) Robbie (Fradd) now. He's an experienced jockey and knows this track well.

"I will go through the speedmap with him, and see who's drawn on the inside and come up with a plan.

"It's not the end of the world but it makes his job a bit harder."

Fradd himself was on the other hand not overly fussed by the less than favourable draw.

"Once the gates open, many things can happen," said the man who has partnered ROCKET MAN to six of his seven wins.

"Pat leaves it to me to make decisions and I'm very grateful for that. He knows the horse inside out and I know how to ride him, too.

"As you all know, he's got enough gate speed to go forward. There'll be speed on his inside and on his outside, and I'm not worried about it."

The draw also unveiled results which pleased some teams to bits, but caught some slightly on the backfoot, with a few even feeling the race was as good as over. The coveted barrier gate No 1 was clinched by horse No 1 and the highest-rated runner in the 14-horse field, SACRED KINGDOM.

Trainer Ricky Yiu's assistant Edwin Wong punched the air with delight after securing barrier one while fellow Hong Kong trainer John Moore plucked out barrier 12 for INSPIRATION.

Wong said after the draw that TAKEOVER TARGET was the obvious main danger.

"Hopefully we'll be able to sit fourth or fifth depending on how he begins," said Wong. "We'll have to see how the course is racing but I'm sure we'll be following TAKEOVER TARGET in the run."

INSPIRATION's trainer John Moore was slightly deflated but not giving up the fight.

"I'm disappointed with the draw but at least he won't be getting caught up in a traffic jam," said Moore.

"We've done our job now and the rest is up to (jockey) Darren (Beadman). I won't be tying him down with instructions as he's a professional jockey and will do his homework."

England's MADAME TROP VITE, and only filly on the card, drew the next best after SACRED KINGDOM, in stall No 2. Trained by Barry Hills, the straight course specialist will certainly relish jumping closer to the rails.

"That will do," said track rider James Maher. "That will take the pressure off a great deal, but I will still get her used around the bend in her gallop tomorrow."

Singapore trainer Brian Dean uncannily got his wish granted when he said "four" after master of ceremonies Michael Maxworthy asked him which draw he would favour for local hope FANTASTIC OWNERS before he chose his Singapore Airlines plane model.

"This is perfect. It will give (jockey) Mark (Gallagher) more options up there to be where he wants to be as the horse has plenty of early speed," said Dean.

Fellow Singapore trainers Don Baertschiger and John Meagher were also dealt with a lucky hand when they drew barrier No 5 and 6 for CAPABLANCA and LIM'S FIGHTER respectively.

"That's just perfect," said jockey John Powell who rides CAPABLANCA. "I'll just try and get him to fall asleep somewhere just behind them and get him to produce his best over the last 200m.

"He seems in very good form but it's a great race. Hopefully we'll be around the mark at the finish."

Meagher said the middle of the line-up draw of barrier No 6 for LIM'S FIGHTER was just ideal.

"He won't have to do too much in the run and he will be strong at the finish," said Meagher. "I didn't want him drawing too far in or too far out. It's an ideal barrier."

English trainer David Hill seemed reasonably content with his duo's draws as well - ONCEUPONATIME (8) and BEAU BRUMMELL (10), as was Godolphin Stable with DIABOLICAL's alley No 7.

"They're fine. Makes no difference to us," said Hill briefly while Godolphin's track rider Niall Collum said it was an ideal gate for the United Arab Emirates sprinter to jump from.

One trainer who was shaking his head in utter disbelief was South African speed merchant MYTHICAL FLIGHT's Sean Tarry after he came away with No 11.

"It's a shocker. I've said all along we'll be in trouble if he draws double digits," said Tarry.

"I had another closer look at the field, and I think maybe horses drawn in 10, 8, 7, 6 and 5 wouldn't match his speed - but no, it's a shocker."

Local sprinter WAIKATO, who drew wide in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint last December had no better luck when Laurie Laxon drew No 13, but the five-time Singapore champion trainer was far from despondent.

"It's not that bad. We'll ride him back anyway, take it easy and hope he can run on," said Laxon, who also drew wide with Top Spin (11) in the SIA Cup.

The British head travelling lad for the Kevin Ryan-trained PRIME DEFENDER was wondering if the trip had been all that worthwhile after he drew the most dreaded number, 14 from 14.

"I'm gutted because we've come a very long way for this," said the usually jovial Ian Willder.

"But maybe being drawn the widest, we'll be able to tuck him in as he doesn't have any early speed anyway."