HALL’S BOLD TIP
MOMENTS after savouring Caulfield Cup triumph, Nick Hall declared trailblazing Jameka would create even more history with Melbourne Cup glory next month.
The first VRC Oaks winner to win a Caulfield Cup the following season, Jameka will now attempt to become the first horse in history to land the Oaks-Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup treble.
And a gaunt Hall, who shed almost 5kg in the past week to ride Jameka at 52.5kg yesterday, has no doubt Ciaron Maher’s star can achieve the feat.
“She will win the Melbourne Cup, too, so I can’t wait to ride her then,” Hall said, exulting in his second Caulfield Cup (2400m) success.
Watched by his father Greg, a retired champion jockey, Hall deflected credit for the success to Maher.
“He’s done an exceptional job and he’s such a great trainer of campaign horses,” Hall said. “And this goes to show the way he’s prepped this run by run is to win this race, and he’s won it.”
Hall was fined $1000 for his celebratory gesture of standing high in the irons while raising an outstretched arm skywards.
Maher, 35, celebrated a success planned with almost military precision.
“It was just fantastic. It’s one of the big three and we’re thrilled,” Maher said, confirming Jameka would press on to the Melbourne Cup (3200m).
“She’s a rare horse. I think she’s an extraordinary horse. I think she proved that today.”
TAB reacted immediately to the authority of Jameka’s hollow three-length margin over international raiders Scottish and Exospheric, elevating her to $5 equal Melbourne Cup favouritism with Hartnell.
Stewards were kept busy on several fronts with Blake Shinn’s treble soured by a 10meeting suspension for his ride on Moqueen, while Dylan Dunn copped an eight-meeting ban.
Premier trainer Darren Weir blasted officials for lavishing “preferential treatment” on the internationals after Hellbent, short-priced favourite for the Caulfield Sprint, was scratched after straddling a dividing panel in the stalls. The incident came as officials enforced a three-stall “buffer zone” which separates the raiders from local horses.
Officials said a member of Weir’s staff moved Calvin Williams into the threestall buffer zone and was ordered to move the horse back to its assigned stall.
They said Calvin Williams was not placed in his assigned stall but next to Hellbent, who then became upset and climbed over the dividing panel.
“It’s frustrating how they get looked after,” Weir said.