Jockey Nick Hall confident Jameka is ready to peak in Melbourne Cup

HAVING watched all the lead-up races, nothing will sway Nick Hall from his belief that Jameka is the one to beat in the Melbourne Cup.

Nick Hall reacts as he rides Jameka to victory in the Caulfield Cup. Picture: AAP

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HAVING watched all the lead-up races, nothing will sway Nick Hall from his belief that Jameka is the one to beat in the Melbourne Cup.

A sparkling track gallop last week convinced Hall that Jameka was ready to peak and complete the Cups double.

Hall has heard the talk about Jameka not being bred to run 3200m but dismisses it out of hand.

Breeding experts believe there is no way Jameka will see out 3200m, given her sire won up to only 1600m and her mum was a 1400m winner.

“She certainly gives me the feel of a 3200m horse,” Hall said.

“I don’t read into breeding too much. The narrative around breeding is for an audience buying horses and it’s talked up a lot to create interest and engage people in buying horses.

“For me, I just go on feel and there is no indication that she won’t run 3200m.”

Jameka carries 54.5kg on Tuesday and would be the highest-weighted four-year-old mare to win the race.

Nick Hall celebrates after winning the Caulfield Cup aboard Jameka. Picture: Getty Images

Again, Hall is unperturbed.

“Greg Carpenter is a fantastic handicapper and he doesn’t often get it wrong,’’ Hall said.

‘‘That was about what weight she should have got.

“It’s all relative to what’s in the field.”

Hall wasted heavily to make Jameka’s 52.5kg in the Caulfield Cup because he expected her to win. He has the same confidence about Tuesday.

“After riding her (last Thursday) I think she’s better,’’ he said. ‘‘I think the tables could be turned on a horse like Hartnell.

“Ciaron Maher is really big about campaign training and peaking her at the right time.

Hall considers Maher one of the best trainers in the game.

“He’s very relaxed and casual but it does get mistaken that he’s too relaxed,” Hall said. “He’s actually very switched on.

“With the relaxed attitude comes this great fluidity where he’s able to change tack at any moment. He doesn’t have set rules around horses getting certain work.

“He’s constantly looking at horses and changing their work, changing their gear, changing this, changing that.

“It’s a really great attitude.”

Originally published as Jockey Nick Hall confident Jameka is ready to peak in Melbourne Cup