Finche primed for Cup assault

CHRIS Waller can sleep easy knowing Finche is ready to launch its assault on Saturday’s Caulfield Cup.

The $5 favourite took to Caulfield for the first time yesterday morning under the watchful eye of his trainer, hitting his stride at 4am under new jockey Michael Walker.

And Waller said the import had adapted well to its new surrounds.

“It just makes you sleep a little bit better at night [having had him here],” Waller said.

“It’s obvious that some horses do struggle when they go into a new place ... but he’s very adaptable and he’s raced in Melbourne a few times before.

“It’s just one more thing we’ve got done properly to ensure he’s well prepared for such a big race.

“It’s an important race on the Australian calendar and it’s a big prizemoney race so it’s important from that perspective as well.”

Walker — who was only appointed to the ride on Sunday — said Waller and his team had Finche “spot on” to give the jockey what he considered to be his best-ever shot at the Caulfield feature.

“I know a lot of people have doubt in their minds thinking because he’s such a big horse and he’s performed at Flemington, people are thinking he may not be a Caulfield horse,” the jockey said.

“But after my gallop my confidence has [grown]. I couldn’t be happier.”

Walker said the opportunity to ride the star stayer “blew me away”, revealing that Waller — who described the appointment as a “reward” for the Kiwi’s hard work — himself had delivered the news.

“I woke up Sunday and still hadn’t got the call,” Walker said. “Chris rang me himself, and when I saw his name on my phone I was like, ‘I’m going to get one [of either Finche or Brimham Rocks]’, I just didn’t know which one.

“When he said Finche, I there and then wanted to put the phone down and scream. I just played it cool and when I got off the phone I was like ‘yes’. We’re in with a chance.”

The $5 million handicap has eluded Waller, with the star trainer in his first spring since 2016 without star mare Winx in his stable.

“I wouldn’t say it’s hollow, but it’s certainly less stressful,” he laughed. “She just took things to a whole new level.”