REIGNING champion Fly The Banner faces a daunting task in his title defense this weekend.
Winner of last season's Emerging Stars Final as a three-year-old, Fly The Banner is back for Saturday night's edition at Globe Derby.
The Robbie Caton-trained gelding booked his defense by capturing a heat of the series at the same venue three weeks ago.
Naturally thrilled to have the son of Warrawee Needy in the $25,000 feature, Caton admits the barrier draw has taken some of the gloss off the occasion.
To Caton's dismay Fly The Banner will begin from barrier eight - inside of the second row.
"It is a terrible draw," Caton said. "Certainly not where I wanted him to come from...he is going to need luck from there.
"He'll have to come off the pegs and be put into the race at some stage, but that is up to the driver now.
"Condition wise, he is in perfect shape and ready to run a big race, now we just have to wait and see how it pans out."
Citing Imposter Boy as the one to beat, Caton also rates Places You Dont highly.
Unbeaten from three starts this campaign, Imposter Boy has drawn the outside of the front line, with Places You Dont to begin from five.
"Imposter Boy is in terrific form and has to be considered the main one to beat," Caton said. "Places You Dont has won its last couple and is also well positioned.
"It's a pretty even race overall and hopefully the breaks will go our way."
