Bloodline counts for very little

IF Tiberian wins the $6.2 million Melbourne Cup this afternoon, there’s a good chance breeders won’t be rushing to follow his bloodlines.

The French galloper is the son of Tiberius Caesar, a teaser pony who spends his days at stud stimulating mares before a stallion comes to serve them.

Tiberius Caesar’s owners wanted to reward him for all his hard work and allowed him to serve a mare called Toamasina. The result was Tiberian. Now the six-year-old has a chance to become the most unlikely Melbourne Cup winner in the race’s 157-year history. And make no mistake, he is a serious contender.

Tiberian has won six of his 17 career starts, including his past two in Group company in France. His formlines suggest he could be the best roughie in the race.

Talismanic won the US Breeders’ Cup (2400m) turf race on Sunday.

Tiberian defeated Talismanic twice earlier this year over 2400m by a combined four lengths.

Talismanic then came out and defeated today’s Melbourne Cup favourite Marmelo by a length over 2800m in July.

That form line alone suggests Tiberian could well be the forgotten horse in this year’s race at $26 and his jockey Olivier Peslier agrees.

Tiberian will jump from barrier 22 today but Peslier has come up with a top-secret plan to overcome the wide draw.

“I don’t tell you exactly my plan because maybe someone is watching me but the horse is well,” Peslier said with a smile.

“We have had a nice summer. He has arrived in good form.”

Peslier will be unknown to most Australian racing fans but he has won many big races overseas and is looking forward to going to battle with champion jockey Frankie Dettori (Almandin) again.