Had the barrier draw for the Queensland Derby been held a day earlier, Electric Fusion might never have got on the plane from Melbourne.

Electric Fusion arrived in Queensland the night before he came up with barrier 22 for the 2400m Group One Classic at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

“We’re there now so we’ll roll the dice,” trainer Robert Smerdon said.

“He’s in good shape and I’m happy with the horse but I would have preferred a different barrier.”

Electric Fusion did enough with a closing second under a big weight on a bog track at Sandown last start to earn himself a shot at the Derby.

Despite the barrier concerns, Smerdon found some potential positives.

“You always hope if there’s a bit of rain about, and being a late race, the inside of the track might chop out and maybe out wide might not be such a negative,” he said.

Electric Fusion has already tried to win a Derby this season, finishing fifth in the Victoria Derby at Flemington last November.

“I thought he was the winner on the turn in the Victoria Derby but on face value he didn’t run the trip out,” Smerdon said.

“That was at 2500 metres and at the end of his very first preparation. Now he’s had a break, he’s more seasoned and it’s slightly shorter so I’m hopeful that he’s capable of running it out.”