David Hayes pleased with Caulfield Cup Hopes
Story By Alex Steedman
Monday, 13 October 2008:  | | Guillotine |
Both Guillotine and Zagreb make the field as two lightweight hopes thanks to wins in the Feehan and Naturalism Stakes respectively.
Last years Victoria Derby winner Kibbutz will go into the race rated a rough chance following a disappointing spring campaign to date.
Guillotine will head into the Cup as the best backed Hayes runner. The Montjeu four-year-old is currently at $8 following Saturday's third in the Yalumba Handicap (2000m). The race saw jockey Craig Williams able to settle the grey for the first time in his four starts this spring.
Hayes gives credit to the addition of pacifiers for the improved run, although was disappointed Guillotine was unable to ware down eventual winner of the Yalumba Stakes, Douro Valley, in the final stages.
“I was disappointed he didn't win,” Hayes told Sport 927. “I thought when he relaxed he might have won the race. It wasn't a disappointing Cup trial, he was right there and fought out the finish.”
“He'll appreciate a huge weight drop.”
Guillotine will go into the race as a weight special and according to Hayes should also go into the race as the favourite depending on the alley he draws. Saturday's Caulfield Cup run will be the four-year-olds third run in as many weeks.
“He's got great constitution and he handles his racing extremely well,” Hayes said. “I think that will only be a plus for him having the three runs in three weeks because he has that slight tendency to overrace – a bit like Jeune used to do years ago.”
An $18 chance in Saturday's Cup, Zagreb who will wear blinkers in the Cup drifted in the markets following a disappointing 11th in the Turnbull Stakes on October 4.
Hayes suggests punters should forget the run with an unlikely mishap causing the four-year-olds downfall in the Turnbull.
“He got a big clod of dirt down his throat,” Hayes said. “Hopefully that won't happen at Caulfield.”
Although Hayes labels Kibbutz a better Melbourne Cup hope, he will still line up as a $51 chance in the Caulfield Cup.
Hayes' other runner still in contention to run in the Caulfield Cup is Anamato.
The mare would make the field with C'est La Guerre, Zarita and Pompeii Ruler ruled out as starters but Hayes confirmed this morning she is unlikely to run in Saturday's $2.5 million race.
|
