Ryal Bush horseman Nathan Williamson hopes he will not have to use that excuse with Tas Man Bromac in the 4yr-old male pacing division of the Harness Jewels at Cambridge on Saturday.
The Taylor Mile runner-up has drawn two on the second line in the $150,000 group 1 mile, and will follow out Little Rascal, who has not shown blazing gate speed in recent starts.
"We'll just take it as it comes,'' Williamson said.
"The front line is probably preferable because at least you can make your own luck, but I'm not disappointed with the draw - he could have drawn eight or he could have been wide on the second line so it's better than that. I'll just drive it as I see it.''
Tas Man Bromac has been based at Robert Dunn's Pukekohe stables for his northern campaign and has thrived, beating Robbie Burns and Rocker Band at a workout at Pukekohe on Saturday.
"He seems to be coming right at the right time, and has hardened up to group 1 racing,'' Williamson said.
"That's brought him on a wee bit. He had a bit of a bug after Christmas and has got over that, and the warmer climate up in Auckland has given him a wee bit of a boost.''
Field Marshal has lobbed the ideal draw in barrier 1, but the presence of Titan Banner out wide means there should be some speed on.
"I think there will be a lot of horses coming forward from out wide so he could end up shuffled back a wee bit,'' Williamson said.
"Obviously with the way the draws have worked out, one on the second line would have been a preferable draw. He could have followed Field Marshal through and that looks like the place to be, but we'll play it as it comes.''
Williamson is no stranger to Harness Jewels success as a driver, winning with Springbank Richard in 2007 and 2008 but the added dimension of training a Jewels contender gets Williamson fired up for the day.
"I haven't had many starters in the Jewels, so it's nice to have a runner who is a good each-way chance with a bit of luck.''
Williamson might already have added a third Jewels driving title to his name by the time the 4yr-old emerald starts at 3.48pm.
He drives the $2.70 favourite Democrat Party in the opening race on Jewels day, the 4yr-old diamond for pacing mares.
The Southland bred-and-owned mare will start from barrier 4 after scratchings for master trainer Barry Purdon.
"She will have to make her own luck from the draw, but she's good enough to do that. She's a good front-runner, so I see myself heading there. If she led, she'd be hard to beat.''
Katiki Beach trainer Ricky Allen will be sweating on a scratching to make the 3yr-old ruby field. His trotter, Sea Eyre, is the first emergency, although he does have ownership interest in Eyrish Mist, which starts off the unruly in the 2yr-old ruby.
Meanwhile, the juvenile male pace is down to 12 starters after Motu Meteor joined The Kaik as an early scratching, meaning it will comprise two lines of six.
