A rain affected track at Ipswich on Saturday can compensate Maternal’s wide barrier draw in the Listed $100,000 Sky Racing Gai Waterhouse Classic (1350m).

Jeff Lloyd, above, rides Maternal in the Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich. Photo by Daniel Costello.

The Ipswich track was rated a heavy 9 at acceptance time on Wednesday and with more showers forecast for the rest of week, there won’t be very much opportunity for it to improve.

Maternal drew barrier eighteen in the original barrier draw of sixteen plus two emergencies and will jump from the outside of the field no matter how many line up in the final filed on Saturday.

Leading Brisbane jockey Jeff Lloyd takes the ride on Maternal, replacing Kerrin McEvoy who was aboard last start when the mare ran ninth to Bonny O’Reilly in the Listed $100,000 IPG Marketing Solutions Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on June 3.

Trainer Darren Beadman admits that the wide barrier could cause a problem but added that Maternal did handle a soft track two starts back when she recorded a three lengths win in a 1350m BenchMark 85 Handicap at Doomben on May 13.

“She is also quite happy on a soft track as she showed when she won at Doomben two weeks ago,” Beadman told Sky Sports Radio.

“The wide draw isn’t a help but the fence might not be that good either. She has got good gate speed and Jeff Lloyd.”

Beadman will also saddle up the top weight Kinshachi who has drawn nicely at barrier three with Damian Browne booked to ride, replacing Tommy Berry who was aboard last start when the Commands mare ran sixth to Bonny O’Reilly in the Helen Coughlan Stakes.

Kinshachi also has a good wet track record with two wins on the heavy and one on a soft surface and will handle the wet conditions at Ipswich on Saturday.

“He run behind Bonny O‘Reilly the other day was quite OK. She was beaten less than three lengths and is probably down in grade a bit here,” Beadman said.

“It looks like being another heavy track up there on Saturday, she handles that and she’s up to the class.”

The Joe Pride trained I Am Zelady has no winning form on a rain affected track and will also have to overcome a wide barrier after drawing thirteen in the original draw.

Glen Colless takes the ride replacing Brenton Avdulla who rode the mare into sixth place behind Eckstein in the Group 3 $150,000 Glenlogan Park Stakes (1300m) at Eagle Farm on May 27.

Final Field for the Gai Waterhouse Classic (1350m)