Caulfield salute for Vermeer and O’Brien makes history

MASTER trainer Aidan O’Brien believes Johannes Vermeer has all the attributes to win the Caulfield Cup – and deliver a world record.

If the favourite wins on Saturday, it will be the Irishman’s 25th Group 1 this year and will match US trainer Bobby Frankel’s 2003 feat.

Speaking from the UK, O’Brien said Johannes Vermeer had the versatility to take advantage of his inside draw.

“He’s a quick breaker, he usually settles well and he usually quickens well,” he said. “You need a horse with tactical pace who then relaxes and then can really quicken.

“He is pacy. A flat track should suit him.”

O’Brien told Sky Sports radio he was delighted with Johannes Vermeer’s slashing second in the Caulfield Stakes. His team has dismissed fears the horse will be intimidated by the 2400m test.

Johannes Vermeer, who has not raced in a field larger than 11, will face 16 rivals in what is traditionally a torrid Group 1.

Asked if the multiple Group winner would be spooked, O’Brien’s assistant TJ Comerford said: “Not at all because he’s actually quick away. He can just slot in wherever he wants after that.”

Five of the past eight winners have emerged from double- digit alleys, but Johannes Vermeer, to be ridden by Ben Melham, has drawn barrier two. Johannes Vermeer and The Taj Mahal strode on the fibretrack at Werribee as the O’Brien camp confirmed it had not abandoned Cox Plate ambitions with the latter.

The Taj Mahal finished 10th – beaten eight lengths – behind Gailo Chop in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes ( 2000m) on Saturday.

“( The) Taj Majal just ends up being a bit lazy,” he said.

“He probably needed that just to wake him up because he is a good horse and there’s better to come. I don’t doubt that he’ll improve.

“I think the Cox Plate is a big option for him because we can change a few things around with him for next time.

“I have to see what Aidan and what ( owner) Lloyd ( Williams) think, but I do think that would be an option.”

Comerford indicated reapplying blinkers could be the trigger for a sharp lift. The Taj Mahal wore the gear when second in the Group 1 Secretariat Stakes in August.

“We might try blinkers on him next time, because when he ran at Belmont he had blinkers on,” Comerford said.