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The barrier draw to the $1 million Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m) held at the Bar Rouge, Raffles City on Thursday afternoon is done and dusted.

There were grins and the usual groans, but at the end of the day, the real deal plays out on the track.

More variables can still come and throw a cat among the pigeons till post time at 5.25pm on Sunday, like the heavens opening, or one or two scratchings which could open the door to new starters, especially one in particular. After the handicaps came out on Monday, the "cliffhanger" was centred around the one who ironically may not even run: Cliff Brown's Threeandfourpence who just missed out on berth No 16 by one point.

Brown still holds a trump card in the Triple Crown bidder What's New, but her ordinary barrier in 14 didn't help in giving the Australian handler some respite.

He should maybe still spare a thought for his compatriot Steven Burridge, who has just one bullet in Glasgow – and still came away with the most dreaded draw in 19.

But if there is one leaf to be taken from any proponent of optimism, it is hands-down from Glasgow's owner Miller Wun.

No, he did not whip out a bagpipe from under a kilt when he pulled out the outermost alley for the son of Not A Single Doubt named after the Scottish metropolis; he was still upbeat when Master of Ceremonies Luke Marlow asked for his reaction after he earlier said with great gusto that his second runner Nimble, who drew better in seven, would win.

"Glasgow will win, too" he said.

Even if his two horses don't win (separately!) or dead-heat on Sunday, Mr Wun has already won something. The award for entertainer of the day! 

CIRCUIT MISSION, HELIOSPHERE, SUPER DYNASTY, SUN MARSHAL and MR CLINT – Barriers Nos 1, 3, 11, 13 & 16 

"I'm generally happy with the draws. Circuit Mission drew the best in one, obviously," said trainer Lee Freedman.

"He'll go forward as he usually races handy. So the draw won't be an issue for him.

"Heliosphere has drawn in (in three). We will probably ride him differently this time.

"With some gear change – blinkers off, visor on – we'll try to run him in the first half of the field whereas he's been ridden back with bad draws of late.

"Sun Marshal and Super Dynasty will both roll forward from their wide gates. They both have the speed to go forward, and will take their time to come across – we'll play it by ear.

"As for Mr Clint, he hasn't been drawing a barrier lately. 16 is not ideal and he'll have to go back again and be ridden for luck.

"My job is done, it's now down to the jockeys." 

Heliosphere's handy draw certainly drew a positive reaction from the man who dipped into the hat, China Horse Club's Vice-President Eden Harrington. 

"We have positive aspirations (with Heliosphere) in the Derby. He has drawn well in a field where half of them have a chance of winning," said Harrington. 

"It's an even field, and there is a lot of positive for us going forward."

Sun Marshal's jockey Joseph Azzopardi, who did the draw for the Macau-owned galloper, for one thought 13 might well be his lucky number.

"He will roll forward from there and come across," said the young Perth jockey.

"We know he'll be strong over the trip."

MAGIC WAND – Barrier No 2 

"It's very nice, it's a good gate. Jimmy (jockey Wong Chin Chuen) wanted 1-2-3 and we got three, so that's good," said trainer Tan Kah Soon.

"That should be able to keep the horse out of trouble." 

QUARTER BACK and EYE GUY – Barriers Nos 4 & 10 

"It's a Christmas miracle, it's perfect for Quarter Back," said trainer Michael Clements' assistant-trainer Michael White after he pulled out No 4 when the other remaining alley was No 19.

"I couldn't be happier with that draw. It will give him the perfect run and every chance.

"If you had asked me before what I would've wanted for him, it would have been just that.

"Eye Guy has drawn 10. It will give us the opportunity to ride him differently.

"Not ride him quiet, but more off the speed and give him every chance to finish off." 

DESTROYER ECLIPSE – Barrier No 5 

"I'm happy with the draw. We wanted one to six, we got five," said trainer James Peters.

"That will give the horse a bit of a chance from there. He deserves to be in the race."

Jockey Daniel Moor, who did the honours of going on stage to pull the barrier, was equally pleased with his lucky hand.

"The horse is in good order and has got the right draw," said the Australian rider.

"I'll be hanging out at the back and ride him quiet." 

BEAU GESTE and SACRED CROIX – Barriers Nos 6 & 9 

"Both horses have drawn well. Hopefully, they can get reasonable runs from the draws," said trainer Mark Walker.

"If Sacred Croix can settle somewhere in midfield with cover, he will definitely be in with a say.

"Beau Geste was a certainty beaten at his last start (no clear run and checked in the home straight in a race won by Threeandfourpence). Vlad (Duric) said he should have won easily.

"The only thing is Beau Geste has had a bit of a rushed prep. One more run would have been better but it was not possible as he came out of quarantine a bit late."

NIMBLE – Barrier No 7 

"Happy with seven, he's drawn to get a soft run. We'll probably be three or four back in the run," said jockey John Powell.

"Hopefully, he settles for me. I won't be doing much on him till the 600m as I know he's suspect over the trip.

"I was actually offered the ride on Beau Geste, who I know gets the trip, but I ride a lot for the owner (Nimble's), so I've stuck with them." 

KING'S SPEECH (EA3) – Barrier No 8 

"As the third Emergency, it's unlikely he'll get a run. At least, I'll enjoy the lunch," said trainer Stephen Gray. 

ELITE QUARTETO, WHAT'S NEW, THREEANDFOURPENCE (EA1) and GOLD STRIKE (EA2) – Barriers Nos 12, 14, 17 & 18 

"I haven't had the best of luck at the barrier draws and I had another bad day today," said trainer Cliff Brown.

"I have no-one to blame as I drew for What's New myself. Unfortunately, we can't change the results.

"We can only hope she does what she did at her last run (Stewards' Cup when she drew 12 and found the rails). For Elite Quarteto, he will still go forward, 12 is fine for him.

"As for Threeandfourpence, what will be will be. Right now, he's not in, just like Gold Strike, but we'll see."

Josh McLoughlan, the Forever Lucky Stable's racing manager for English import Threeandfourpence who was especially brought in for the Singapore Derby, sounded even more distraught by the whole situation where their horse, widely considered as a serious contender if he was to get a run, might end up a non-runner.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed," said McLoughlan who was assisted by Threeandfourpence's jockey Michael Rodd's three-year-old daughter Lila at the draw.

"He is the fresh horse on the scene and he is peaking at the right time. He's drawn wide here (17), but he's also drawn wide (12) in the other race (Class 3 race over 1800m).

"He's a good horse going forward."

The other racing manager under the Brown umbrella is Aloysius Chew of Elite Performance Stable and he was also the designated ballot picker.

"Elite Quarteto is a good horse who has yet to show up in Singapore," said Chew of his Brazilian Group 1 winner over 2400m.

"Hopefully, he shows up in the Derby."

What's New's jockey and winning partner in the second Leg, the Group 2 Stewards' Cup (1600m), Ben Thompson has no doubt about the gallant mare's ability, but one could tell an inner gate would have given him an even greater lift.

"She won from 12 in the Stewards' Cup, albeit if she had drawn closer to the fence in the Derby, it would've been nicer," said the young Australian jockey.

"Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be, but from all reports, she has been working very well. It's a very similar field to the first two Legs.

"Fingers crossed, let's hope she runs the way she did at the first two Legs."

KING LOUIS – Barrier No 15 

"That (barrier No 15) sums up the prep he's had," owner Steve Levar said ruefully.

"The Moonbeam Vase was a disaster (where he was flattened out on the rails at a crucial stage and his saddle slipped), and we've run out of luck since.

"We've changed some things up and went back to basics. We've got the best from the west in Pikey (multiple Perth champion jockey William Pike) – I could tell Joey Azzopardi (also from Perth) was already shaking when he heard who was coming!" 

GLASGOW – Barrier No 19 

Trainer Steven Burridge was at a loss to offer a reaction at first, but still tried to draw a positive spin with a touch of humour.

"No comments...Miller, what did you do?" he hurled in mock indignation at Mr Miller Wun, one of MMW Stable's owners, after he came up with the least desired stall in the ballot box.

"We'll have to ride him quiet and conserve his energy as much as possible, and come from behind. 

"Like the way one of the race callers said at one of his wins, he'll have to 'drop from the sky'!"