Yucatan impresses in gallop

IF given the choice of a ride in the Melbourne Cup, Aidan O’Brien’s travelling foreman TJ Comerford says he would be sticking with the favourite Yucatan.

The O’Brien stable will have three runners heading towards the Cup with The Cliffsofmoher and Rostropovich joining the favourite.

Comerford’s call came as Racing Australia allowed Yucatan to race under his original name.

Yucatan was to step out as Yucatan Ire and German-bred Sound Check as Sound in next week’s Melbourne Cup until Racing Australia intervened yesterday.

Yucatan and The Cliffsofmoher, part-owned by Lloyd and Nick Williams, galloped together on the course proper at Werribee yesterday while Rostropovich was given some light work after running in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Comerford said the work produced by Yucatan and The Cliffsofmoher was strong a week out from the Cup.

“They did a strong piece of work, the work was good and the track was riding lovely,” Comerford said.

“It was building work, then strong past the winning post and Yucatan certainly has done that. If you asked me to ride one, I’d be riding Yucatan.”

Yucatan leapt to the top of Cups betting following his victory in the Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield on October 13. That earned him a berth in the Caulfield Cup, but he was withdrawn after pulling up slightly sore.

The Cliffsofmoher has bounced out of his Caulfield Cup placing on October 20 and Comerford said the stayer is showing improvement by the day. “His dapples are coming out,” Comerford said.