Michelle Payne: If Ciaron Maher’s trio can control tempo then he can take out the Caulfield Cup

PODCAST: CIARON Maher can seize control of the tempo in Saturday’s Caulfield Cup — and can win it with any of his three runners, writes Michelle Payne.

CIARON Maher can seize control of the tempo in Saturday’s Caulfield Cup — and can win it with any of his three runners.

His mares Jameka and Set Square are more obvious hopefuls than roughie Pemberley but he’s still not without a chance!

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The Caulfield Cup is an unusual race. Usually, it requires a horse than can both stay at a solid tempo and sprint hard at the end and those horses are rare.

My only ride was on Allez Wonder in 2009. We ended up in the box-seat from the good draw but she didn’t have the turn of foot required at the end of the 2400m journey. I remember Bart Cummings was a little bit upset that I ended up too close but she jumped so well and when the chance came to slot in I felt I had to take it.

It’s funny, trainers always want you in the perfect spot but it’s not that easy, especially in a Caulfield Cup.

Having said that, I think Ciaron can put his two mares in the right spot.

Caulfield Cup favourite Jameka with Lucy Yeomans aboard enters the water at Mordialloc Beach on Friday morning. Picture: Colleen Petch

Even though Jameka is an Oaks winner I have always had a tiny query at her in the 2400m — Caulfield Cup. For me she is brilliant and those types can lose that brilliance in a high pressure race but good horses also pull through, especially with a light weight and in a year that there doesn’t look a lot of pressure.

Looking at the race, I can envisage Jameka pushing forward from her gate (13) and racing at least in the first three or four.

Likewise, I reckon her stablemate Set Square will probably have be positive out from the outside gate. Although not the perfect way to ride her, she is extremely tough and has a feather weight also.

Some of Ciaron Maher stable runners — Throssell, Pemberley and Jameka — enjoy a morning stroll at the beach on Friday. Picture: Getty Images

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Ciaron’s two mares could easily settle in the first three — maybe one of them will even lead — and that gives them the chance to set the tempo, which is an enormous advantage to them.

I suspect Tally is the only other one that will go forward, also from a wide alley or else the internationals who don’t usually tend to have the tactical speed in the Caulfield Cup but may put some pressure on at some stage of the race.

I have ridden regularly for Ciaron over the years. He is brilliant at setting horses for their targets, especially fillies and mares. The key is he doesn’t over work them, he seems to know the key to getting them spot on on the day!

Michelle Payne is interviewed after winning The Don Award at the Australian Hall of Fame awards ceremony on Thursday night.

I was really keen to ride Set Square. He and I often joke about who would win the Caulfield Cup out of her and Jameka. I rode her once early in her career over 1400m but have ridden her a lot over the years in track work and she’s always given me the indication the tough 2400m is right up her alley, especially peaking as a five-year-old mare.

She just feels so strong underneath you she has the inner strength required for these races plus a turn of foot given the right run. Jameka is well weighted but so is Set Square, whose form is probably better than it reads.

It’s always a bit tricky to get a handle on the internationals but have been very impressed with Scottish.

I’m probably biased because he’s being ridden by (brother in law) Kerrin McEvoy and I’ll be cheering for Kerrin but I was just really impressed with the way he looked, the way he moved.

The problem might be a firmer track he maybe not be used to, which it may be. Scottish action suggests to me that he’d prefer some cut out of the ground.

I’m not that keen on Exospheric. I don’t really like the way he lays in his races.

I’d be very wary of both Sir Isaac Newton and Articus. Sir Isaac Newton has been running in very strong races and Articus is just so consistent.

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But if Ciaron can in some way dictate the play with his mares, then it’s going to make it a little bit harder for the internationals.

Of the local horses, the obvious one to run well is Real Love, who has found form at exactly the right time, which is so important for a Caulfield Cup or any big race for that matter.

One last thing — my filly Queen Of Zealand, which I train and ride, runs in a 1700m maiden at Warrnambool on Sunday.

She doesn’t know how to draw a barrier yet but I think she’s pretty good and I’m still hopeful to get her into the Oaks, which Set Square and Jameka both won.

MICHELLE PAYNE SELECTS

1) JAMEKA

2) Set Square

3) Scottish

4) Articus

Michelle Payne with her young filly Queen Of Zealand, who will make her Australian debut at Warrnambool on Sunday. Picture: Colleen Petch

Originally published as Michelle Payne: If Ciaron Maher’s trio can control tempo then he can take out the Caulfield Cup