Weight drop favours Kings Will Dream, says Weir
TRAINER Darren Weir says he’s done his job to enable Caulfield Cup favourite Kings Will Dream to succeed in today’s famous $5 million race.
“He can’t be in better order. He’s had a fantastic preparation. If he doesn’t win he’s not good enough,” Weir said.
“If he can land in the right spot, say in the first eight, he’ll be in the finish. He’s been racing well at weight-for-age and the key is that he’ll drop in weight.”
Kings Will Dream has been favourite for the Caulfield Cup since his triumph in the Mornington Cup, which offered a guaranteed start in the feature.
At his final lead-in run the five-year-old gelding finished third behind Winx and Caulfield Cup rival Youngstar in the Turnbull Stakes at Flem- ington, but Weir believes he should have been closer.
“Craig (Williams) went to the inside and he probably should have gone to the outside and he would have finished closer,” Weir said.
He said although Kings Will Dream secured a Caulfield Cup start by winning the Mornington Cup in March, it hadn’t affected his preparation.
“He would have had the same preparation. It was nice knowing he was there but I would have done everything exactly the same,” Weir said.
The trainer will have two other starters in the Cup — $21 TAB chance Night’s Watch and Gallic Chieftain $61.
Night’s Watch had his final lead-up run in last Saturday’s Caulfield Stakes, where he finished sixth.
“I thought he ran well without running a great race last week,” Weir said.
“It wasn’t the run where you’d say he’s a really great chance in the Caulfield Cup, but one you’d say it’s worth having a crack at.
“There’s a little question mark around him running 2400m too but the key is he drops in weight.
“The outside barrier (18) might work for him as he’ll go back and be out of what could be carnage early for horses drawn in.”
Weir said Gallic Chieftain, who finished fourth behind Yucatan last Saturday in the Herbert Power Stakes, could run a cheeky race.
“He’s well drawn and it should work out well for him with the horses around him. I’m thinking he’ll run a top eight to 10 and that should get a nice return for the owners. The back-up suits him and I’m confident he’ll beat more horses home than beat him.”