Joao Moreira booked to ride Caulfield Cup favourite Buckaroo but owner Brae Sokolski admits he has distance worries

Melbourne Cup-winning owner Brae Sokolski reveals Joao Moreira has been secured for the Caulfield Cup favourite but admits he has one big concern.

Brae Sokolski has revealed “Magic Man” Joao Moreira has been booked for Caulfield Cup favourite Buckaroo but admits there is a distance query.

Group 1 Underwood Stakes winner Buckaroo has been the big mover in Caulfield Cup betting with his price slashed from $11 to $6 after just being pipped by Via Sistina in the Turnbull Stakes.

With 54.5kg in the Caulfield Cup (2400m), Moreira has been confirmed to ride.

• EXCLUSIVE: National tote pool edges closer with shock merger imminent

It gives the Magic Man a golden chance to win his first Caulfield or Melbourne Cup.

Melbourne Cup-winning owner Sokolski is delighted with the booking of Moreira, although he concedes he is not 100 per cent confident that Buckaroo will run a strong 2400m.

“Joao will ride the horse in the Caulfield Cup,” Sokolski told Racenet.

“The question mark on the horse is obviously the mile and a half.

“I think the jury is out as to whether he will run the trip.

“If he does, he is definitely the horse to beat.

“The Cox Plate is also a consideration, he has now established himself as an elite weight-for-age horse, but there are probably half a dozen horses in that race who could have his measure.

“He is probably a 20-1 shot in the Cox Plate and a 6-1 shot in the Caulfield Cup.

“So I think we are pulling the right rein.

Joao Moreira after riding Buckaroo to win the Group 1 Underwood Stakes. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images.

While Sokolski has some qualms about whether $6 Caulfield Cup fancy Buckaroo will run a strong 2400m on Saturday week, he has no doubts one of his Melbourne Cup charges is the real deal.

He said Valiant King, a former European who ran sixth in last year’s Caulfield Cup before being withdrawn from the Melbourne Cup after having a setback, is crazy odds at $51 or better in Melbourne Cup betting.

• King lands ride for Everest history bid

After a long lay-off, Chris Waller-trained Valiant King was run off his legs when resuming in the Kingston Town Stakes in Sydney but Sokolski and the crew of owners were impressed with his Turnbull Stakes effort when less than seven lengths from Via Sistina.

“The horse that people need to stand up and take notice of from a Melbourne Cup point of view is Valiant King,” Sokolski told Racenet.

“He has gone completely under the radar, which is maybe fair enough because he failed first up but he then ran the third fastest last 200(m) of the Turnbull.

“He made incremental improvement to the Turnbull.

“He now heads to the Moonee Valley Cup and if he can make that incremental improvement again as he steps up to a proper staying trip, I think he is in the Melbourne Cup up to his ears.

“I think he’s the forgotten horse of the Melbourne Cup, I really do.

“He is a beautiful animal, he is a classic European stayer and I just love the trajectory he is on.”

Valiant King. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images.

• Craig Williams booked for Far Too Easy in Kosciuszko

Sokolski is also in the ownership of Group 1 Queensland Derby winner Warmonger who was terrific resuming in the Makybe Diva Stakes but then disappointing in the Turnbull.

“I am hopeful that Warmonger can get to the Melbourne Cup,” he said.

“He was disappointing on face value for sure last Saturday.

“But I think when he steps up to a proper staying trip and he is ridden more aggressively, I think you will see a different horse.”

Meanwhile, Hong Kong-based jockey Zac Purton has been booked to ride The Metropolitan winner Land Legend in the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup.

Land Legend received a 1kg penalty for his win, taking him to 53kg in both cups and into the top 24 in the order of entry.

Originally published as Joao Moreira booked to ride Caulfield Cup favourite Buckaroo but owner Brae Sokolski admits he has distance worries