Trainers thinkin’ Big for melbourne Cup?
THE prospect of Thinkin’ Big lining up in the Melbourne Cup will be looked at closely after he contests the Victoria Derby next Saturday.
Co-trainer with Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott, said the Melbourne Cup was an option which would be considered after he runs in the Victoria Derby. He is the $3 favourite.
“He’s still in the Cup but we haven’t given it a huge amount of thought. That’s an option that will be looked at after the Derby,” Bott said.
The last three-year-old to contest the Melbourne Cup was Waterhouse’s Nothin’ Leica Dane, who won the 1995 Victoria Derby before he finished second to Doriemus, three days later.
Interestingly, one of Thinkin’ Big’s great grandsires is Nothin’ Leica Dane. Bott said Thinkin’ Big was in great shape going into the Derby.
“He’s had a good grounding, he’s bred to run the trip and physically he’s right to run the distance.,” he said.
“He was pulling away from them at his last start over 2000m. We’d love to win the Derby as he looks the right sort of horse for it.”
Before that he finished second in the Spring Championship Stakes.
Thinkin’ Big has won four of his six starts and easily won the Caulfield Classic at his only Melbourne run at his last start.
“He came through that race in great order. We didn’t have to run him in the Vase as he’s fit enough,” he said.
“We believe we’ve given him the right preparation to win such a prestigious race.”
The stable is also hoping to have two other runners in the Melbourne Cup, which are the Geelong Cup quinella of are Runaway and Northwest Passage.
Photo: Michael Dodge/Getty
– Michael Manley