Caulfield Cup 2016: Aidan O’Brien stayer Sir Isaac Newton primed for big showing in 2400m classic

POWERHOUSE Irish stable Ballydoyle has sounded an ominous Caulfield Cup warning, declaring Sir Isaac Newton to be “absolutely thriving” before Saturday’s $3m race.

Sir Isaac Newton has thrived since arriving in Melbourne. Picture: Mark Stewart

POWERHOUSE Irish stable Ballydoyle has sounded an ominous Caulfield Cup warning, declaring Sir Isaac Newton to be “absolutely thriving” as Aidan O’Brien bids for another Australian major.

O’Brien’s assistant TH Comerford said Sir Isaac Newton, a $15 chance with TAB Fixed Odds, had “settled in lovely and he’s doing everything right”. “I thought he was very good this morning,” he said. “He’s absolutely thriving. I couldn’t be more happy with him.”

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Winner of three of 12 starts and twice competitive this season at Group 1 level behind Postponed and Highland Reel, Sir Isaac Newton has flourished since arriving at Werribee 11 days ago.

“Travelling horses and taking them away from what they’re used to, they change and grow up a bit more,” Comerford said. “This lad is thriving since he got here. He’s eaten well, he’s drinking well. He looks magnificent. He seems to be doing everything right in his work ... very pleased with him.”

Comerford has overseen star O’Brien charges on two previous visits — 2014 Cox Plate winner Adelaide and Highland Reel, third in last year’s Cox Plate — and believes he has an accurate gauge on Sir Isaac Newton’s formline.

Sir Isaac Newton enjoys a roll in the sand after trackwork at Werribee. Picture: Mark Stewart

“He has been running well in really good quality races,” Comerford said. “He wouldn’t be as good as Highland Reel, but he is progressing and he is getting better.”

Comerford describes Sir Isaac Newton’s fourth in the Group 1 Juddmonte behind Postponed as evidence of the lightly-raced stayer’s ability.

Sir Isaac Newton finished 10th behind Almanzor in the Irish Champion Stakes (2000m) at Leopardstown on September 10 at his last run.

“He is what he is. He’s on the premises in Europe in Group 1s and I don’t see why anything has changed because he’s got on to an aeroplane,” Comerford said.

“He still has a good chance. Last time was a brilliant Group 1, probably the best Group 1 in Europe in regards of horses that have won Group 1s. They were just top class.

Sir Isaac Newton is among a strong European contingent in the Caulfield Cup. Picture: Mark Stewart

“You probably have to go back to his run before that and his run before that, where he ran in the King George, beaten four lengths by his stablemate Highland Reel, who is a very good horse who was third in the Cox Plate last year and also broke the track record (at Ascot).

“He’s (Highland Reel) won in Hong Kong and run well (second) in an Arc the weekend gone.

“Then he ran in the Juddmonte, beaten four and a half lengths again, which is a sign that the first day wasn’t a fluke.”

Sir Isaac Newton will be ridden by Colm O’Donoghue.

$3m CAULFIELD CUP

Caulfield, Saturday

1 PREFERMENT C Waller H Bowman (15) 57kg

2 OUR IVANHOWE L & A Freedman D Dunn (6) 56.5kg

3 EXOSPHERIC L & A Freedman D Oliver (3) 55.5kg

4 SCOTTISH C Appleby K McEvoy (7) 55kg

5 SIR ISAAC NEWTON A O’Brien C O’Donoghue (9) 55kg

6 TARZINO M Price C Newitt (4) 54.5kg

7 ALMOONQITH D & B Hayes & T Dabernig M Walker (2) 54kg

8 SIR JOHN HAWKWOOD J P Thompson B Spriggs (5) 53.5kg

9 ARTICUS A Wohler Z Purton (11) 53kg

10 TALLY J O’Shea B Avdulla (19) 53kg

11 JAMEKA C Maher N Hall (13) 52.5kg

12 REAL LOVE D Weir C Williams (10) 52.5kg

13 SET SQUARE C Maher M Dee (a) (20) 52kg

14 BIG MEMORY T McEvoy C Parnham (12) 51.5kg

15 SACRED MASTER C Waller T Berry (8) 51.5kg

16 FANATIC G Sanders D Yendall (16) 50.5kg

17 PEMBERLEY C Maher B Allen (a) (17) 50.5kg

18 GO DREAMING G Kluske Ms K Mallyon (1) 50.5kg

19e DE LITTLE ENGINE D O’Brien B E Thompson (a) (14) 50.5kg

20e VENGEUR MASQUE M Moroney P Moloney (18) 50.5kg

BETTING: TAB FIXED ODDS