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Son of Extreme Choice set to line up in Sires' Produce Stakes 

A change of fortune at the barrier draw could be the impetus Tiger Of Malay (Extreme Choice) needs to rediscover his best form in the BRC Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) at Eagle Farm. 

The Pago Pago Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) runner-up has had no luck with gates this preparation, drawing eight of nine when down the track in the ATC Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) at Randwick and eight of ten in the Champagne Classic (Gr 2, 1200m) at Doomben where he finished fifth. 

Co-trainer Michael Freedman saw merit in that performance, given the youngster was trapped wide throughout, and from barrier seven of 17 in Saturday's 1400 metre assignment, he is hoping the breaks finally favour Tiger Of Malay. 

"He sat three and four deep and it was no fault of Nash (Rawiller), it was just the way things panned out, but he never got on the track," Freedman said. 

"I thought he toughed it out pretty well under the circumstances. 

"Saturday is probably the best barrier he has drawn this entire preparation. He has just been plagued by bad barriers." 

With original rider Mark Zahra now not making the trip to Queensland due to the COVID-19 situation in Victoria, Craig Williams will partner Tiger Of Malay for the first time. 

Tiger Of Malay will clash with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Converge (Frankel) who will also line-up in the Group 2 on Saturday. 

Converge won the Fernhill Handicap (Listed, 1600m) in Sydney before running third in the Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) and then being set for a Brisbane tilt.

Waterhouse's co-trainer Adrian Bott was on hand to watch Converge work at Eagle Farm on Tuesday and was impressed with how the son of Frankel (Galileo) has come through his Sydney campaign.

"It was nice sharp work, exactly what we wanted to see coming up here with him," Bott said.

"He stretched out beautifully. Really happy with the way he found the line.

"He's had a good week to settle in since the nice trial at Wyong. He's had a little freshen up since his run in the Champagne.

"I thought he still looked very sharp and it's good to have him look around the course proper."

Bott said it's possible Converge has improved since Sydney as he takes on a race featuring huge depth, headed by emerging local youngster Prince Of Boom.

"He's only lightly raced, but I thought he continued to improve throughout that last campaign,” said Bott. "Mentally he seems to be a lot more switched on.

"If we can take a line through that, I would like to think he can continue to improve this campaign."