Melbourne Cup favourite Fame Game can throw race away, jockey Zac Purton warns

ZAC Purton says Melbourne Cup favourite Fame Game is a “poser’’ who could dramatically pull up and throw the race away if not ridden to specific instructions.

ZAC Purton says Melbourne Cup favourite Fame Game is a “poser’’ who could dramatically pull up and throw the race away if not ridden to specific instructions.

The former Queensland jockey landed in hot water with Victorian chief steward Terry Bailey after the Caulfield Cup when questioned why he did not try for a run earlier.

The Japanese stayer only found clear air in the last 100m of the race and finished an eye-catching sixth behind Mongolian Khan.

Purton explained he had been given instructions by trainer Yoshitada Munakata and owner Katsumi Yoshida to search for runs between horses rather than attempting a swooping run around the field.

It sounds an extremely weird tactic.

Zac Purton with Melbourne Cup favourite Fame Game at Werribee. Picture: Getty Images\

But Purton has told The Courier-Mail of fears that the Melbourne Cup favourite could toss the race away if different tactics were adopted.

He is worried Fame Game is a poser who would have his mind on playing up to the Flemington crowd if he was ridden around the outside of the field.

“They (Japanese connections) say that Fame Game is better ridden in between horses,’’ Purton said.

SWEEP GENERATOR: TAP HERE TO CREATE AND PRINT YOUR OWN SWEEP

“They say that when he loops around the outside, he poses and pulls up and stops and doesn’t know what to do.

“These guys are a global powerhouse of world racing and they know what they want to do.

“That’s what they believe and they know the horse better than you do, and I do, and anyone does.’’

Fame Game, which drifted in betting on Monday, represents a huge liability for bookmakers as he has been anchored to win a fortune in many big-race doubles.

MACCA, MATTY AND DANNY ASSESS EVERY RUNNER IN THE MELBOURNE CUP IN A SPECIAL EDITION OF THE SUPERRACING PODCAST. LISTEN BELOW

The eyes of the world will be on Purton with stewards insisting they expect the horse to be ridden in the same manner as in the Caulfield Cup and not circumnavigate the field in the straight.

Stewards have now examined footage of Fame Game’s previous races in Japan and confirmed the horse is often ridden to charge through gaps between runners in the straight.

If chief steward Bailey and his panel deem Purton rides the horse differently in the Melbourne Cup, it could result in a retrospective charge being laid against Purton.

In a further test of the patience of stewards, indications are that Fame Game could be ridden further forward in the Cup.

But none of the controversy seems to faze Purton, the jockey who once cut his teeth in the Brisbane jockeys room.

“It’s not in the back of my mind at all,’’ Purton said.

“Stewards ask questions all the time and I am just moving on now and not thinking about that.’’

Originally published as Melbourne Cup favourite Fame Game can throw race away, jockey Zac Purton warns