Jim Collett got his wish when McQueen’s barrier luck took a turn for the better in the three-year-old’s sternest challenge at Ellerslie on Saturday.

The Matamata trainer’s prayers were answered with the gelding to jump from the inside gate in the Gr.1 TV3 New Zealand Derby.

“It always makes it a bit easier with a good draw, even at the more extreme distances,” Collett said.

“He’s a better horse when he’s ridden a little bit quieter, but we had to do something last time out and go forward in a slowly-run race.”

McQueen drew a wide alley when he finished fourth, after knuckling over at the start, in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas two starts back.

He again had no favours from the outside but one barrier in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas and was pressed into action early and fought on for fifth.

“He’s hard and fit, in very good condition and he’s done really well,” Collett said.

He also believes McQueen, whose mother Creil won the Gr.1 Avondale Gold Cup, will be untroubled by the Derby distance of 2400 metres.

“He’s a dead-set stayer and he’s a nice, relaxed galloper,” Collett said.

The stable also has a live chance in the Gr.3 Mr Tiz Trophy with the runaway last-start winner Red Striker.

“She’s all heart and she can run,” Collett said. “She’s thrived and she doesn’t necessarily have to go forward.”

The diminutive Red Striker resumed after a break on the course earlier this month and she trounced the older horses by five and a half lengths over 1200 metres.

The filly has won two of her seven starts with placings behind the talented male three-year-olds Volkstok’n’barrell and Huka Eagle also to her credit.