CAULFIELD trainer Luke ­Oliver was not too upset when Khutulun, his first Group 1 runner, drew barrier 22 for ­tomorrow’s Queensland Oaks.

Luke Oliver’s first Group 1 ­runner Khutulun could have bust the balloon for Caulfield trainer Luke Oliver.

Oliver said it was something he had got used to in Khutulun’s five-start career.

“She’s drawn the extreme outside three times, close to the outside once and the only time she drew in, the track ­favoured horses drawn out wide,” he said.

Despite the ordinary hand dealt by barriers, Khutulun has recorded two wins, two seconds and a fourth.

Khutulun secured a trip to Queensland with an unlucky second to Queensland Derby hopeful Sonntag at Caulfield a fortnight ago.

Oliver said he would leave it to jockey Ben Melham to ­devise a plan for Khutulun.

“He is so confident with what he does and he’s also so relaxed,’’ Oliver said of Melham. “I’d imagine he’ll go back but I’ll leave it to him.”

Despite the draw, Khutulun is an $8 third favourite with TAB behind $2.50 favourite Arabian Gold and Tinto at $7.

In his eight years as a trainer, Oliver has built his reputation as someone who can sort out crocks from other stables, such as Royal Ida and Sensational Toy.

Khutulun is an example of where he wants to head as a trainer.

“In the past two years I’ve bought a lot of young horses, mainly fillies with strong staying pedigrees who I can aim at Group 1 events such as Oaks events, without having to pay too much for them,” he said.

Oliver said he felt this was the best way for him to get a Group 1 horse as buying yearlings to make a mark as two-year-olds was expensive and involved a lot of wastage.

Khutulun was purchased by Grand Syndicates for $16,000 and ownership divided into twenty shares.

Oliver said 18 of the 20 owners were going to Eagle Farm tomorrow.

Khutulun is one of the best performers in Australia by former leading sprinter Soldier’s Tale, a stud failure here.

Soldier’s Tale, who won the 2007 Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, defeating Australian star Takeover Target by a head, returned to England.

Now a 13-year-old, he has been gelded and is now used as a stable hack by his former trainer, Jeremy ­Noseda.

Oliver said Khutulun had an impressive pedigree on his dam’s side featuring several Oaks and Derby winners.

Khutulun’s dam Great Tradition is a three-quarter sister to Victoria Derby winner Blackfriars and South Australian Oaks winner Larrocha.

Oliver also has recent Adelaide Cup placegetter Base running at Sportingbet Park tomorrow.

He said he didn’t fire until he race at 2400m or further.