Published: 7:43AM Wednesday October 30, 2013
Chris Waller will give Foreteller his chance to win the Melbourne Cup.
Since Foreteller's fourth in Saturday's Cox Plate, Waller and connections of the dual Group One winner decided the reasons for running outweigh those for not starting.
Foreteller will be one of three possible Melbourne Cup starters for Waller. Hawkspur is on target, while last year's fourth placegetter Kelinni is sweating on a run as number 25 in the order of entry, with 24 to start.
"We buy horses for these races and then we find excuses not to run them," Waller said.
"He [Foreteller] is a seven-year-old, he's not going to get another chance and it's an amazing race. He's probably got the best formlines going into it, if he can stay."
Foreteller has never raced over further than 2400m, but his spring preparation has included a Group One win in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m), a second to Atlantic Jewel in the Caulfield Stakes (2000m) and a fast-finishing fourth in last Saturday's Cox Plate (2040m).
"Obviously, we've got to tick the two-mile box yet, but we'll have a go anyway," Waller said.
The trainer insists Foreteller will be able to handle the distance given the way he races.
The longest race of Foreteller's career was a 1-1/4 length fifth in the Group One BMW (2400m) at Rosehill in the autumn, won by Fiveandahalfstar with Melbourne Cup-bound Silent Achiever runner-up.
Beaten Caulfield Cup favourite Hawkspur was given a searching solo gallop at Flemington on the course proper on Tuesday and will have another solid gallop on Saturday to ready him for the Melbourne Cup.
New Zealand mare Silent Achiever turned in an impressive piece of work, easily accounting for Roger James-trained stablemate Zonza, while international Simenon was taken to Flemington to familiarise himself with the track and the surroundings.
Owner Lloyd Williams is set to have six runners - Green Moon, Sea Moon, Fawkner, Seville, Mourayan and Masked Marvel.
Waller has Brisbane Cup winner Moriarty in Saturday's Mackinnon Stakes, but said a Melbourne Cup run for the horse 28th in order of entry was unlikely.
"He's next year's Foreteller," he said. "I'm not going to get too urgent with him.
"I don't think he'll get a start in the Cup and it won't worry me.
"We'll take him home, and we'll get him ready for the Ranvet and BMW and bring him back next year."
Copyright © 2013, Television New Zealand Limited. Breaking and Daily News, Sport & Weather | TV ONE, TV2 | Ondemand
No comments:
Post a Comment