Th Age
Andrew Eddy
October 15, 2009
With an ideal draw of barrier seven, Godolphin's impressive Kirklees continued his climb up the bookmakers' boards to be installed the $8 favourite. Right behind him in betting at $8.50 is Luca Cumani's grey Cima De Triomphe, alongside Predatory Pricer, who slid from $7 to $8.50 after he drew gate 16.
Godolphin's travelling foreman, Tommy Strang, said Kirklees had done nothing but please since the early hiccup in his campaign when he had an elevated temperature on arrival in Melbourne last month.
''He looks great in his coat and he's working well. He's back to his normal self,'' he said.
Godolphin won the cup last year with All The Good and Strang said Kirklees was a more proven performer. He said barrier seven suited Kirklees as his forte was early speed from the gates. ''He can pick and choose [where he settles], but I'm sure he won't be far off the pace.''
Sarah Cumani, representing her husband, confirmed what the form and ratings experts had been saying in recent days, that the two internationals were the best credentialled to ever contest the Caulfield Cup.
''He would be the best obvious chance because of the very good horses he's finished behind. It's easy enough to finish behind big names, but he needs to win,'' she said.
Cumani said Cima De Triomphe and stablemate Basaltico, who will test his Melbourne Cup credentials in the Geelong Cup on Wednesday, had settled into Australia perfectly.
As for the barrier draw, which will see Cima De Triomphe jump from barrier nine if the third and fourth emergencies do not start, Cumani was happy enough after a run of poor draws in the race in past attempts.
''It gives us options. He tends to sit off [the pace] but we would not want him any worse than midfield,'' she said.
Jockey Damien Oliver said he was pleased that he would have options from the midfield draw. ''It looks perfect.''
Trainer Danny O'Brien did not want his highly-rated Vigor to draw the inside as he did when he was knocked about in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington last start, but he couldn't have asked for any worse than barrier 22 - the extreme outside. He'll start from 18 if the emergencies don't run.
''It's probably better than barrier one but it certainly doesn't help your confidence going into an 18-horse handicap,'' he said.
''You need everything to go right and it's no help when you have to give away an advantage like that.''
Stablemate Master O'Reilly, who won the cup in 2007, faired little better in 18. O'Brien said Vigor was likely to go forward early, while Master O'Reilly could take his time and settle near the tail. ''He's going well but you have to remember he hasn't won since he won this race two years ago,'' he said.
Nick Williams, representing the owners of C'est La Guerre, was bullish about the five-year-old's chances before and after he drew 13. ''We think our horse is in the race up to his eyeballs.''
William said the five-year-old, who won the New Zealand Derby by a space on a heavy track in 2008, would appreciate a wet surface but did not need it to produce his best. ''He's in absolutely fantastic shape and we'll certainly see him put his best foot forward.''
Williams explained that the reason his father Lloyd had historically avoided running in the Caulfield Cup had little to do with the prospect of being lumped with a Melbourne Cup penalty. ''The reason we've tended to stay away is that it is such a hard race to win,'' he said.
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