Homesman earns tilt at Caulfield Cup after Underwood Stakes win

STRIPPED of two leading spring contenders, Lloyd Williams continues to flex formidable muscle with the emergence of Homesman as a legitimate Caulfield Cup prospect.

Homesman denies Tosen Basil in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes. Picture: Getty Images

STRIPPED of two leading spring contenders, Macedon Lodge continues to flex formidable muscle with the emergence of Homesman as a legitimate Caulfield Cup prospect.

On a day when Darren Weir trained five winners and three seconds from nine races at Caulfield, Homesman momentarily halted the champion trainer’s juggernaut with Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) victory.

And, in the absence of Lloyd Williams’ 2017 spring stars Rekindling and Johannes Vermeer, the import charged into Caulfield Cup calculations by upstaging Weir duo Tosen Basil and Humidor.

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The lightly-raced gelding is now $7 second favourite for the October 20 Caulfield Cup, splitting Weir pair Kings Will Dream ($4.50) and Night’s Watch ($8).

His triumph completed a massive weekend for Ben Melham, who won the Group 2 Premiere Stakes on Santa Ana Lane at Randwick on Saturday.

Celebrating his 16th Group 1 success, Melham said: “Nice horses and good support from stables like this makes life easier.

“(Macedon Lodge) have been great supporters for me and they’re about to start firing, I think.

“Taj (The Taj Mahal) won well the other night (the JRA Cup at The Valley).

Homesman (right) holds off Tosen Basil in the Underwood Stakes. Picture: Getty Images

“This horse is a beautiful horse. He ran really well in the Dato (Tan Chin Nam’ Stakes) and up to a more suitable trip, blinkers back on and he’s just a real tradesman, this bloke.

“Credit to the stable, they’re going well and in for a good spring, I think.

“He’s in great order, the stable has got him going fantastically and he’s in for a great preparation.”

Part-owner Nick Williams said Homesman deserves a crack at the elite after eclipsing a string of Group 1 winners in the Underwood.

“He’s a tough animal, he’s very genuine, very honest,” Williams said.

“Ben gave him a great ride. I think 1800m is a bit short of his optimum trip.

“It’s great to get the Group 1 up for him and that gives him ballot-free exemption into the Caulfield Cup.

“And I’d imagine all things being equal, that’s where we’d head.

“He’s a genuine horse, he’s never put one foot wrong since we’ve had him.”

Charlie Appleby’s Blair House was slowly away before running on stoutly for fourth.

Grunt, the $3.40, favourite was a surprise leader before compounding at his home – and hoodoo – track.

Weir was delighted with the performance of Tosen Basil, who tightened from $51 to $13 for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups after failing by a short head.