Draw hands import strong Cup position
THE wave of support continued for Lloyd Williams import Johannes Vermeer after he drew barrier two last night for the Caulfield Cup firming to $4.70 with UBET.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained stayer rocketed up the Cup betting charts after a slashing second in the 2000m Caulfield Stakes behind Gailo Chop last Saturday.
Jockey Ben Melham said yesterday barrier two was ideal as Johannes Vermeer had the speed to make use of the draw.
“He relaxes well and he’s the right type of horse for a Caulfield Cup. I’m pretty confident,” Melham said.
Darren Weir hasn’t given up on his quest for his first Caulfield Cup victory with one of his two runners – Humidor and Amelie’s Star – despite import Admire Deus breaking down yesterday.
Humidor, $6 second favourite, drew barrier seven, and
Amelie’s Star an $8 chance, will jump from 13.
Weir said as shocked as he was about the loss of Admire Deus, who remains at the Ballarat Veterinary Clinic, there was little choice now but to look to his other hopes for the big race.
“He was just unfortunately stretching his legs this morning,
and we don’t know what happened,” he said.
Weir said Humidor and Amelie’s Star were “both in great shape”.
“Seven is ideal (for Humidor). The other one (13 for Amelie’s Star) is a bit sticky,” the trainer said.
Weir denied reports jockey Michael Dee had been sacked
from Amelie’s Star after the owners yesterday opted for Craig Williams after Admire Deus’s mishap.
“The jockey change has been blown out of proportion,” he said.
“At the end of the day Micky Dee was booked (Monday night) at 8 o’clock. He wasn’t sacked off the horse ….
“He didn’t get off any other horse to get on my horse, and he hadn’t ridden the horse before. So he had the ride for 12 hours. The owner was happy with Micky Dee, but when Craig Williams became available, he just thought it was in his best interests that Craig had more experience.”
New Zealand trainer Murray Baker’s Bonneval drew barrier 14 and drifted from $6 to $6.50. Jon Snow was at $12 after he drew barrier six.
“Jon Snow is a very honest horse. He doesn’t get too far off the pace, drops 3.5kg on Saturday’s placing,” Baker said.
“He’s a wet-track horse. From barrier six he’ll be thereabouts.”
Baker said Bonneval “seemed perfect”, despite stewards deeming that she pulled up lame last Saturday.
“She’s fit, she’s won two Oaks at the trip, and has a topclass rider in Kerrin McEvoy aboard,” he said.