Caulfield Cup time
Classy import The Cliffsofmoher has Hugh Bowman on board and barrier 3
Youngstar is ex-pat Kiwi trainer Chris Waller’s leading contender for the great race.
For a comprehensive preview as well as fields and forms for New Zealand meetings tomorrow
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy is confident the gruelling 2400m of tomorrow’s Caulfield Cup will suit Chris Waller’s leading contender Youngstar, whose chances were enhanced after landing a good barrier for the big race.
The mare was installed as secondfavourite for the Cup at $5.50 after drawing barrier 10, and while the four-year-old has never raced at that distance, McEvoy is confident, reports the Herald Sun.
“I think (it will suit),” he said. “The (Queensland) Oaks win ... she was strong at the end of it there in Doomben (after 2200m) and she’s got a great attitude and relaxes well. She’s a nice mare to ride in the way that she conserves her energy, so you’d like to think that 2400m will be no problem.”
McEvoy, 37, can’t fault the Chris Waller-trained mare.
“Yep, (confidence is) strong that she’s going to run really well,” he said. “But it’s a great lineup, so we’re going to have to bring our A-game.”
Despite the good draw, Youngstar eased in betting from $5 to $5.50 with TAB. Darren Weir’s Kings Will Dream is the outright favourite at $5 after coming up with barrier six.
Classy import The Cliffsofmoher has Hugh Bowman on board and connections will be happy after drawing barrier 3.
Team Hayes is anticipating a positive approach for Ventura Storm in the Caulfield Cup. The six-year-old gelding has drawn barrier 11 and cotrainer Ben Hayes says he might be underrated.
“He’s come through the (Turnbull Stakes) great,” he said. “I thought it was a great run, and he was only beaten an inch by Kings Will Dream and also Youngstar was only just ahead of him and they’re both favourite in the market (at $5.50 and $5) and he’s probably 30-1 at the moment. He’s come to the race excellent.
“From 10 (after emergencies come out), I think we’ll be nice and positive. And we’ll see if we can get some cover and it shouldn’t be too bad a barrier for him. I was glad that he didn’t get any wider.”
Jaameh is second emergency for the race but Hayes had not given up hope of a start, especially after the team’s late inclusion Boom Time snared last year’s A$5 million feature. “We were hoping he could sneak into the field, but unfortunately he’s the second emergency. We’ve just got to hope,” he said. “Funny things can happen. Boom Time didn’t have a run until five minutes before the race last year. He’s gone really well and we’d love to get in to have a run.”
Irishman Pat Cosgrave will chase successive group one victories with Best Solution after snaring the Caulfield Stakes last week with Benbatl.
He is undaunted by a wide alley — 17 — with the Cup topweight.
“It is what it is and Best Solution is a straightforward horse anyway,” Cosgrave said.
“I can ride him the way I want to. He’s pretty uncomplicated and genuine. He seems to go on all types of ground.”
Cosgrave labelled Duretto, trained by Andrew Balding, a genuine chance after the raider drew the inside — a gate which has not yielded the winner since Velocity in 1941.
The only New Zealand-trained hope in the race Jon Snow continues to drift in the markets as the rain expected, and his case hoped for, in Melbourne has yet to eventuate and the track looks certain to be good.