Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip no certainty to line up in Caulfield Cup
The trainer of one of Australia’s top stayers is warning punters against betting early on his charge who is down to run in Saturday’s $5m Caulfield Cup.
Horse Racing
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip has completed his final piece of work ahead of the Caulfield Cup, but champion trainer Ciaron Maher remains undecided on whether to take his place in the field.
Maher will discuss options with Gold Trip’s syndicators Australian Bloodstock today but a final decision could be reserved for later in the week.
“No, I haven’t yet (made up mind),” Maher said.
“But he definitely worked well today, just ticked over since his Turnbull win and seems in a similar vein of form.
“I’ll have to have a chat to the owners today and look to make a call.”
Gold Trip, runner-up in the Caulfield Cup last year, worked over 1200m on Tuesday and quickened late but well and truly on the bridle to really stretch the legs.
“He’s in really good order, mile and a half will be no problem, he was beaten a head last year, he’s got a little bit more weight and it’s maybe a little bit stronger field, but he’s certainly in very good order,” Maher said.
“I think he runs in the Cox (Plate) and Melbourne Cup, it’s just whether he runs in the Caulfield Cup.”
A remarkable Turnbull Stakes (2000m) triumph last start has been the catalyst for the possible change of heart to skip the Caulfield Cup and target the Cox Plate-Melbourne Cup double instead.
Gold Trip contested all three spring majors last year, culminating in a famous Flemington victory.
“The ease of his win last start makes you think he’s a legitimate Cox Plate horse whereas last year he may not have been, so that’s a deciding factor,” Maher said.
“He did the three last year, ran well in the three, but last start he went in there relatively fresh and had a good turn of foot.”
Maher has Hugh Bowman and Ben Melham on standby to ride Gold Trip, should he take his place in the field on Saturday with regular jockey Mark Zahra committed to Without A Fight, the equal second favourite in the Caulfield Cup.
Maher has Right You Are and Duke De Sessa locked in to run in the Caulfield Cup.
Caulfield hosted about 40 horses for gallops on Tuesday including Chris Waller’s Cups contenders Soulcombe and Francesco Guardi.
Soulcombe was most impressive, with Waller, who has won two of the past three Caulfield Cups, forecasting a “special” performance on Saturday.
Originally published as Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip no certainty to line up in Caulfield Cup
Racing heavyweights endorse The Everest’s ‘deserved’ Group 1 status
The Everest and All-Star Mile have been announced as freshly-minted Group 1 races.
Japanese stayer to hit Warp Speed in Melbourne Cup
Competitive efforts in top staying races in his homeland should ensure Japanese stayer Warp Speed will be competitive in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.