Gai’s Cup hangs on Derby Day
TRAINERS Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott will know their Melbourne Cup destiny after the Derby Day meeting at Flemington on Saturday.
If results go their way, they could have three starters in the $7.3 million Melbourne Cup – or they could be left without a runner.
Their talented three-yearold Thinkin’ Big remains in Cup entries, but has to win the Victoria Derby (2500m) to be any chance of starting on the first Tuesday in November.
Runaway and Northwest Passage, who ran the quinella in the Geelong Cup last week, are likely to contest the Hotham Handicap (2500m) in a bid to secure Cup starts. Bott said the first priority was to try to win the Victoria Derby with Thinkin’ Big, an impressive last-start winner of the Caulfield Classic.
In early betting, Thinkin’ Big is the $3 favourite to emulate his closer relation, Nothin’ Leica Dane, who was trained by Waterhouse to win an epic 1995 Victoria Derby beating Octagonal.
“Thinkin’ Big’s super, he came through his Caulfield win in great shape,’’ Bott said.
“Physically he has really come on since his last start and hopefully we have got the right horse for the Derby.
“We just want to get through our first goal, which is the Derby.”
Bott said Runway and Northwest Passage would be among Hotham entries.
Runway is moving closer to getting into the 24-horse Cup field but Northwest Passage has to win the Hotham to back up next Tuesday.
“Both will head towards the race,’’ Bott said. “If Runway can sneak into order before then we may still decide to run in the Hotham depending on what we feel is best.’’