Veteran hoop Pat Carbery is unfazed by the wide draw facing Jokers Grin in Saturday’s $5 million Kia-Quokka (1200m), maintaining faith in the star four-year-old’s ability to overcome adversity in WA’s richest sprint race.

Carbery knows all about wide alleys at Ascot’s showpiece event, having flown home from a similar draw aboard Amelia’s Jewel to finish second in the race’s inaugural running last year.

Jokers Grin has drawn gate 13 – the widest barrier – for the Quokka, but Carbery remains confident in the Bernie Miller-trained gelding’s class and form heading into the feature.

“It’s not the preferred barrier, but that’s the way it is, and we’ll work it out,” Carbery said to Racing WA.

“You don’t have control over what barriers you get; they’re the cards your dealt and I’m not deflated at all.

“If he can get on the back of the right one and it’s going to bring him into race, that’s the main thing

“Whatever happens I’ll work it out and luck always plays a part in bigger races.

“I just know the horse is going good and that’s the main part of it.

“He’s going really well, going exceptional, Bernie’s (Miller) happy with him, I’m happy with him.

“His work on Saturday was good and he’s not in the race just for fun, put it that way.”

With six wins and two seconds from nine starts, Jokers Grin has been a model of consistency. His only unplaced effort was a fourth on debut at Belmont.

The Maschino gelding comes into the Quokka off a brilliant first-up win in the Rock Magic Stakes (1000m) and a controversial runner-up finish in the Roma Cup (1100m), where he dead-heated before losing on protest.

“The best way for me to put it is that the plan was to peak on Quokka Day,” Carbery said.

“Bernie has been ticking the boxes with everything and has him screwed right down for this run.

“He’s as good as we can get him for this stage of his career.”

Jokers Grin is listed at $14 in the Tabtouch market, with Sydney’s Overpass – unbeaten in Perth and the two-time defending champion – heading betting at $2.15.

Headwater ($6), Western Empire ($6.50), and eastern raider Front Page ($8.50) round out the top picks.

Overpass and Headwall were last seen running behind Briasa in the T.J.Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, filling second and third respectively.

Carbery respects Overpass but sees another threat looming.

“Overpass is not the only horse to beat,” Carbery said.

“I reckon the other Sydney horse is the one to beat.

“Headwall was massive last start and unlucky.”