Rare sweep in sight

Waller on the cusp of immortality

SYDNEY’S champion trainer Chris Waller can make a clean sweep of the three richest races in the southern hemisphere this spring carnival as his stayer, Finche, firmed into favouritism for the $8 million Lexus Melbourne Cup today.

Finche moved to the top of betting at $8 for the race that stops a nation as concerns grew about Japanese stayer Mer De Glace’s ability to run a strong 3200m on a rain-affected track. The Flemington track was rated a soft 6 late yesterday with more showers predicted overnight.

But the weather is expected to clear with a forecast top temperature of 18C. The Victoria Racing Club is predicting more than 100,000 race fans will flock to Flemington.

Waller (pictured) has already trained the winners of the world’s richest race on turf — the $14 million The Everest with Yes Yes Yes at Randwick last month — and the $7.5 million Golden Eagle with Kolding at Rosehill last Saturday. This big race double came after he prepared a world record four Group 1 winners on the same day earlier last month.

A breakthrough Melbourne Cup win for Waller today with either Finche or stablemate Youngstar ($34) would complete the trainer’s domination of the Sydney and Melbourne spring carnivals.

Finche and Youngster ran in the Melbourne Cup last year, finishing fourth and sixth respectively, with Waller conceding Finche is his best chance of winning the famous Flemington two-miler today.

Waller said Finche ran very well in the Melbourne Cup last year after drawing wide but he should get a more economical run from barrier four today.

“His work over the past week has been very good,’’ Waller said. “In saying that, I haven’t put him or Youngstar under too much pressure.’’

Finche’s ownership group includes Winx’s part-owners Peter and Patty Tighe, Black Caviar’s part-owner Neil Werrett, and Prince Khalid Abdullah, who raced the great English champion Frankel, sire of the Melbourne Cup favourite.

Tighe said he is still waiting on word if his mighty mare Winx is in foal to I Am Invincible but Werret revealed his champion Black Caviar last week gave birth to a little colt by the same sire.

Black Caviar, who retired unbeaten in 25 races, has another of her progeny, Prince Of Caviar, due to resume racing at Kyneton tomorrow.

Werrett said his experiences as a part-owner of Black Caviar when she was racing and now as a broodmare eclipses anything he has achieved in racing — even if Finche wins the Melbourne Cup today.

“If Finche wins it would be incredible but it would be number two after Black Caviar,’’ Werrett said.

“The four years of fun we had with Black Caviar when she was racing is something I will never forget, it was an amazing time.’’

Finche will be ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, who can equal a century-old riding record if he wins a fourth Melbourne Cup today. Damien Oliver, the rider of Mustajeer, is also in line for his fourth Cup win.