Sydney based hoop Tommy Berry has not one but two rides booked for the 2015 Caulfield Cup this Saturday in Melbourne, and he is especially impressed with a recent gallop on the first emergency Quest For More who heâs on standby to partner in the classic.
A capacity field of 18 starters plus four emergencies for this yearâs $3 million Group 1 BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) was released on Tuesday morning, Berry listed as the jockey for two of the three accepted European raiders.
The last European Caulfield Cup winner was the French-trained Dunaden (2012), and this spring the three in the mix are Sir Michael Stouteâs equal 58kg top weight Snow Sky, the Ed Dunlop-trained Trip To Paris and Roger Charltonâs first emergency Quest For More.
Four-time Caulfield Cup winning hoop Damien Oliver is booked to ride Yorkshire Cup â Hardwicke Stakes double winner Snow Sky, the jockey after his first win since Sky Heights back in 1999.
In the latest Caulfield Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au, where youâll find exclusive Best Tote or SP + 20% markets on all the Caulfield Cup Day races this weekend, Snow Sky is rated a $16 shot.
As the line-up stands, Berry will have his third start in a Caulfield Cup field aboard the super-consistent Champs Elysees gelding Trip To Paris, prepared by the horseman made famous down under by triple Melbourne Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux.
A five-year-old by Australian standards, Trip To Paris has won two of his five starts over the mile and a half but is proven over much further.
In June he won the Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup (4023m) before a third in the Group 2 Goodwood Cup (3219m) in July and a last start fifth in the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup (3300m) behind Max Dynamite at York on August 21.
He carried 62.5kg and 60.5kg respectively for his past two runs and so looks a livewire hope on 55kg this Saturday, which was last carried to victory in a Caulfield Cup by Fawkner (2013) just two years ago.
Trip To Paris pays $31 in Caulfield Cup betting, while Berryâs other possible ride Quest For More is a $41 hope to make the field with an early scratching and take it out in an upset.
Charltonâs Teofilo gelding was last seen running second with 61kg in the Goodwood Cup in late July and is allocated only 53.5kg this weekend for the worldâs richest mile and a half handicap.
Berry put Quest For More through his paces in a piece of trackwork at Werribee on Tuesday and was suitably impressed with the galloper who will use the Caulfield Cup, should he get a run, as a warm-up for the $6.2 million Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) over the two miles at Flemington on Tuesday November 3.
“He’s not going to go there and win a Caulfield Cup I don’t believe. I think the Melbourne Cup is his main aim,” Berry told Racing Victoria.
“The Caulfield Cup’s the best formline to go through. That’s what Roger’s chosen to do with him.
“He was a completely different horse with the blinkers on today, compared to last week without them.
âThey said he even gets better when he’s following a horse. It’s a bit unfortunate we didn’t have that today, but I’m very happy with the improvement he made with the blinkers on, and I’m sure he’ll be very competitive if he gets a run on Saturday.”
If Quest For More gets a Caulfield Cup start, Berry will jump off Trip To Paris with Glyn Schofield hopping aboard in his place.
In futures Melbourne Cup betting, Quest For More is paying $34, markets led by fellow international Caulfield Cup fancy Fame Game ($7) who is looking to hand Japan with back-to-back wins in Saturdayâs feature after the success of Admire Rakti last year.
Trip To Paris is also Melbourne Cup-bound this spring sitting 15th on the ballot for the ârace that stops a nationâ and paying $21 for the win, and Berry likes his chances once up in distance too.
âHe’s proven himself at the highest level around the world,” he said.
“He ran third behind my bloke at [Goodwood] at their last start.
“I think they both stay the 3200, that’s no problem.
“They’re both lovely looking horses that cover the ground really well.”
Quest For More is further down the Melbourne Cup order of entry currently 27th in a capacity 24-starter field.
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