David Hayes says bring on the Melbourne Cup after import Constantinople’s unlucky run in Caulfield Cup
David Hayes can’t wait to take Constantinople to the Melbourne Cup after thinking what might have been in Caulfield Cup. Plus, Steel Prince is back on track and a wrap of the weekend’s action.
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David Hayes is one of many trainers who came away thinking the Caulfield Cup “was one that got away”.
The Hayes-trained Constantinople ran into dead ends in the straight before he found some clear air and burst home to finish fourth.
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TAB has the Irish import $7 favourite for the Melbourne Cup, in which he will be ridden by Glen Boss.
“That’s the only reason Luke (Nolen) is off him as he couldn’t make the Melbourne Cup weight,” Hayes said.
“I’m now really looking forward to the Melbourne Cup. He’s got to be a very good chance.
“He’ll love the wide open spaces of Flemington.
“Even though there wasn’t any room, he was very brave as he wanted to take every gap.
“In Europe he’d been wayward, but he went very straight due to the gear I had placed on him with the crossover noseband, the pre-race ear muffs, the lugging bit and winkers first time.”
Hayes will push on to the Melbourne Cup with Rostropovich, who had a nightmare run in the Caulfield Cup, finishing 16th.
Hayes said Qafila (17th) was out of the Melbourne Cup after pulling up sore.
STEEL BOUNCES BACK
Steel Prince’s Melbourne Cup campaign is back on track after an impressive gallop at Mornington on Saturday convinced the Anthony Freedman stable the gelding had “dodged a bullet’’ in his Herbert Power Stakes mishap.
Already guaranteed a spot in the Cup after his win in The Andrew Ramsden, Steel Prince will use Wednesday’s Geelong Cup as his stepping stone to the first Tuesday in November.
The six-year-old was a late scratching from the 2400m Herbert Power on Caulfield Guineas day after he lashed out in the barriers, suffering cuts to his hock.
While X-rays cleared Steel Prince of serious damage, assistant trainer Sam Freedman said it was Saturday’s gallop that had convinced the stable he was ready to show his best again.
“Luckily enough, we have dodged a bullet. He has pulled up really well,’’ Freedman said.
“He had a really good gallop on the course proper at Mornington. He is as good as he was leading into his last run. He is all fine now.’’
Freedman said Steel Prince was ready to tackle the 2400m Geelong Cup as his third run for the campaign, and last before the Melbourne Cup.
“We think Geelong will suit him better than the Valley,’’ he said.
“He will get a good, strong hitout and that will do him the world of good.
“It is hard to know (how he will race at Geelong). He will obviously improve out of it. But he is so honest and genuine. If he can relax and behave himself in the barriers, then he will run well.”
MONDAY RACEBOOK
MELHAM BACKS COMPETITION
The Star Of The Saddle concept has led to a lot of Twitter debate, and hardly any of it was complimentary on Saturday night after Craig Williams won the $100,000 prize on Saturday. The gist of the attack was that the money could be better spent on other promotions or in other parts of the industry, rather than filling the pockets of the jockeys. Star jockey Ben Melham entered the debate with a tweet saying it was a great incentive for jockeys who put their life on the line every time they go out to ride.
He went on to say: “Small money in the scheme of things compared to other sports like golf and tennis, which are low-risk sports in comparison to race riding”.
CANNY MOVE
It looks like Godolphin has pulled a masterstroke with its decision to run Bivouac in the Manikato Stakes at the Valley on Friday night. Bivouac was $2.30 for the race last Friday. But after the Everest victory of Yes Yes Yes, whom Bivouac defeated in the Golden Rose, he has firmed to $1.90. Expect his odds to continue to shorten. If Bivouac wins, he’ll add a Group 1 weight-for-age sprint to his resume, elevating his value as a stallion. Will Godolphin then tackle the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington, and another possible clash with Yes Yes Yes, or wait for the VRC Sprint Classic, where he will take on Santa Ana Lane?
CASHED-UP CUP
Going on TAB figures, The Everest didn’t steal any of the spotlight from the Caulfield Cup in Victoria — where $7 million was wagered on the cup in the various bet types, compared to $2.3 million on The Everest. There’s a fair way to go before you can say The Everest is the race that stops a nation.
HE’S THE MAN
Racecaller Adam Crettenden has written a book devoted to the 1970s and early 1980s star sprinter entitled Manikato: The Man.
Crettenden takes you through the career of the powerful chestnut, how trainer Bob Hoysted managed him through his injury problems, and his death with an undiagnosed virus in 1984.
BOSS IS BACK
A year ago Glen Boss was in Melbourne as an invited guest at the Cox Plate celebrations, but he wasn’t offered a ride at the Valley or at Flemington. He couldn’t understand why he had been overlooked, or why his career had taken him to Singapore. But he knew he could return to the top — and he was right. Trainers are now clamouring for his services in the big races. Boss, 50, has turned back the clock in Sydney with wins in the Epsom and The Everest, as well as the Doncaster in April.
WEEK AHEAD
This is one of the biggest weeks in Victorian racing, with several highlights. The Valley will host Breakfast With The Best on Tuesday. The Geelong Cup on Wednesday promises to be one of the best editions of the race, with Melbourne Cup chances Prince Of Arran and Steel Prince doing battle with Irish mare True Self. The Valley carnival kicks off with Manikato Stakes night on Friday. The Cox Plate takes centre stage on Saturday.