Melbourne Cup 2016: Weighty issues face Jameka in bid for rare Cups double

CIARON Maher concedes a possible penalty of up to two kilograms will have a “major bearing’’ on Jameka’s ability to pull off spring’s famous Cup double.

Jockey Nicholas Hall celebrates Jameka’s Caulfield Cup win. Picture: Getty Images

CIARON Maher concedes a possible penalty of up to two kilograms will have a “major bearing’’ on Jameka’s ability to pull off spring’s famous Cup double.

Typically, though, the rarely daunted young trainer believes the dominant Caulfield Cup winner is capable of fending off the next wave of raiders, lump the penalty and take out the double.

Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter will announce a Cup penalty for Jameka at midday on Monday.

Ethereal, who was also a four-year-old mare, was penalised two kilograms for winning the Caulfield Cup in 2001 and lumped the extra burden to victory in the Melbourne Cup.

Jockey Nick Hall declared on Saturday that “will go to the Melbourne Cup and win that,” Hall said. “She will relish the extra distance. The extra weight will just mean that I am stronger.

“Ciaron hasn’t got to the bottom of her yet. There is no question she can do the double.”

Maher wasn’t quite so bullish but was adamant Jameka was the horse to beat, dismissing concerns Jameka had the stamina to extend her dominance at Flemington.

Jockey Nicholas Hall knows he has the Caulfield Cup in his grasp as Jameka leaves her rivals behind. Picture: Getty Images

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“She’s just so clean winded, got such a great stride. She’s at the peak of her career and I’m more than happy to roll the dice and go to Flemington. Credentials-wise, she ticks all the boxes.

“We consider running two miles a real test because we don’t run a lot of them here but it’s all about having the horse going really well and she’s just improving every time she goes to the races.

“It’s only an extra 800m. The way she’s going she’s going to be very competitive. I really don’t think the extra distance will make a huge difference.’’

Maher said his success and experience with jumping horses was an advantage in training Jameka to run out a Cup trip.

“I guess I had a bit of success with them (jumpers) and learned how to get a horse out over a trip,’’ he said.

Jameka ignores her prize as she enjoys a nibble on Sunday. Picture: Richard Serong

The obvious obstacle is Hartnell, who is likely but not guaranteed to go on to the Cup after he takes on Winx in Saturday’s Cox Plate.

The Victoria Racing Club will be desperate for a Winx/Hartnell rematch in the Emirates Stakes, formerly the Mackinnon, which is now run on the final day of the VRC carnival.

The Emirates is now run a fortnight after the Cox Plate, making it a more enticing goal than previously, when run a week earlier.

Maher said Jameka would “just be ticking over’’ until the Melbourne Cup.

“We don’t really do much with her anyway,’’ he said. “She’ll just do light stuff and go to the beach every other day.

“The trick is not really the fitness you get from now until the Cup but the fitness we have established with her over the last three months.

Stablemate Set Square was scratched from the Caulfield Cup with back soreness and is “touch and go’’ to make it to the Melbourne Cup according to Maher.

“We’ll see. If she does go on it will be via the Moonee Valley Cup (on Saturday).’’

Originally published as Melbourne Cup 2016: Weighty issues face Jameka in bid for rare Cups double