FINAL WORKOUTS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CUP HOPEFULS
THE international horses which will contest Tuesday’s $5.65 Emirates Melbourne Cup had their semi-final workouts at Sandown this morning.
For most of the contenders, this morning’s work consisted of a light canter but Munsef and Changingoftheguard were the exceptions.
For Munsef, it was a 2000 metres gallop at three quarter pace with the English stayer’s connections – trainer Ian Williams and owner Dr Marwon Koukash on hand to “see” the work.
Williams said he could not be happier with Munsef’s preparation and, because he is not a big horse, his weight of 53kgs was a positive factor compared to the higher weights he had been carrying in England.
“I would like to see him racing just behind the pace,” Williams said.
Changingoftheguard did about two laps at a strong canter which put the smiles back on the faces of David Hayes and Glen Boss who had not been so upbeat after the horse’s last serious gallop last Thursday.
Hayes reported that Changingoftheguard was now back on his field and he could not be happier with his barrier draw (1) in the Cup because it meant he would be able to get plenty of cover in the run.
“He’s inclined to want to over race if he’s in the clear,” Hayes said.
Boss said he would now give the former Aidan O’Brien-trained four-year-old a “triple A” rating going into the Melbourne Cup.
Hayes said he considered Changingoftheguard, which was originally bought for next year’s 150th
Melbourne Cup, was a genuine top five chance.
Changingoftheguard is being transferred to Hayes’ Flemington stables this afternoon to complete the final 48 hours of his Cup preparation.
Damien Oliver had his first sit on Warringah this morning and said the horse “feels in great order and I think he is going to be there (in the Cup) for a long way.”
Trainer Chris Waller said Warringah’s preparation had been “100 percent” because he had been following the instructions of the horse’s former trainer Sir Michael Stoute.
The horse most of the international visitors seem to respect the most is the Herman Brown-trained
Mourilyan which also was kept to striding work yesterday by jockey Glyn Schofield.
Brown said he had no doubts Mourilyan could run a strong 3200 metres as long as he was able to
be ridden quietly and kept for a late run.
Danny Nikolic also had positive vibes about his Melbourne Cup mount Basaltico from the Luca Cumani stable.
According to Sara Cumani, Basaltico’s preparation had gone “exactly according to plan” since his
unlucky run in the Geelong Cup and their only worry had been the touch and go situation of him
making the final field.
“I think his final gallop the other morning was as good as any of the others,” she said.
Cumani said she could not really compare Basaltico with their other horses Purple Moon and
Bauer, which finished second in the past two Melbourne Cups.
“They are three very different horses,” she said.
Saeed bin Suroor said he was confident the Godolphin hope Crime Scene would give a good
account of himself.
“He has improved since the Geelong Cup and as long as the track is good to soft I think he will run
well.”
He said that while Godolphin had so far failed to win the Melbourne Cup they would continue to keep trying.
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