Racing Victoria’s stewards have pledged to look at the horse on Tuesday morning after figuring out he was nonetheless “exhibiting indicators of soreness within the close to fore foot on account of the stone bruise”. Coach Mike Moroney first reported the six-year-old’s damage on Sunday. Stewards stated the choice can be made by the point last scratchings are taken at 7.30am.
Horses struggling a stone bruise can get well rapidly, however Alenquer is in severe doubt for the race. He was to be the three-time Melbourne Cup winner’s last journey within the huge race.
“It’s all timing but when I’m going to have a journey I wish to have a journey on a match, wholesome horse so if the horse isn’t proper, he’s not proper,” Oliver stated.
“I’ve ridden in sufficient Melbourne Cups to not have a journey only for the sake of going round.
“I do know it’s my final, however I would like the horse to be proper if I’m going to go there.”
Oliver stated he had been round lengthy sufficient to cop the information on the chin when he was informed in regards to the stone bruise on Sunday.
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“I used to be fairly philosophical about it. I’ve been in it lengthy sufficient to see the ups and downs and what shall be, shall be,” Oliver stated.
The champion hoop stated Alenquer would run higher than his value suggests, however he was up towards stiff opposition in Caulfield Cup winner With out A Combat, final 12 months’s winner Gold Journey and three worldwide runners, Vauban, Absurde and Breakup.
Oliver stated Moroney had informed him he would let him know the ultimate resolution as quickly because it was made and he was relaxed about it.
“I’m certain he has received sufficient on his plate with out me driving him mad,” Oliver stated.
Oliver rode a double on Derby Day as he began his last Flemington Carnival in nice kind and he intends to journey for the final time in Victoria on Thousand Guineas Day at Caulfield in lower than a fortnight.
All different horses are having their pre-race veterinary inspections on Monday afternoon.
Vauban may drift as punters residence in on his stablemate
Veteran bookmaker Rob Waterhouse expects Melbourne Cup favorite Vauban to float on race day after the Willie Mullins-trained import was put up at $5 at Monday’s Name of the Card.
As an alternative, it was stablemate Absurde who continued to draw assist, shortening from $12 into $10 on the Cup eve occasion.
It comes as champion jockey James McDonald, who rides final 12 months’s winner Gold Journey in Tuesday’s huge race, informed a packed room at crowd at Crown On line casino that he wasn’t terrified of Vauban.
“He’s popping out of a really sluggish race at Ascot and he dashed residence the final two furlongs,” McDonald stated.
“He put a margin on them, don’t get me improper, however I believe that is one other step up.
“Despite the fact that he labored sharply, I assumed he may have relaxed a bit extra, and a 30-degree day … that’ll be attention-grabbing as properly. Give me Gold Journey.”
Waterhouse stated he was prepared to put Vauban, certainly one of three bookmakers to supply up $5 on stage on Monday.
“I believe it has a activity forward of itself,” he stated of the favorite.
“I might be stunned in case you don’t [see $5 on race day]. Favourites typically blow for the Cup.
“I believe With out A Combat is the logical favorite. The old school thought is to search out the horse after the weights have been launched which have improved, and he suits into that class.”
One punter, Steve Bradley, tried to get $400,000 on at $5, however needed to accept $320,000 in bets, starting from $5 to $4.80.
There was loads of cash for Vauban’s stablemate Absurde, who was $12 into $10 on the name, having shortened in from $20 after Saturday’s barrier draw.
“I believe Absurde has pretty much as good an opportunity because the favorite, however I’m a poor choose,” Waterhouse stated.
Punting syndicate Wolfden backed Absurde to win $500,000, whereas their finest consequence can be the French mare Lastotchka, who they backed at odds of $21 to win $1 million.
“I believe it was huge odds, the double figures,” skilled punter Kingsley Bartholomew stated.
“She had an incredible French ranking, Lastotchka, [and] will get no weight.
“The opposite one was Absurde, he had a really excessive ranking within the Ebor. He will get no weight once more, and actually seems to be exhausting to beat. Vauban I’ve received in entrance of it, however Absurde not that far behind.
“Lastotchka is my finest [result] from Absurde.”
Bartholomew stated Wolfden saved on With out A Combat at $7.50, to win $150,000, in addition to Japanese horse Breakup to win $350,000.
Waterhouse’s son Tom speculated on just a few roughies, backing Interpretation ($101), Kalapour ($51), Serpentine ($51), Millitary Mission ($36), Ashrun ($51), Cleveland ($51), Proper You Are ($61) and Soulcombe ($11) amongst others.
“I simply wager across the favorite,” Tom Waterhouse stated.
“He can simply win, however I simply thought, first up for some time, from abroad, hasn’t had a race right here, and in case you’re going to wager any time of the 12 months, that is the day to do it.
“It’s exhausting to select the winner. I assumed the favorite can be friendless, however it was unbelievably well-backed.
“That’s the great thing about the race, they’ve all received completely different formlines, and you may have very completely different opinions.”
Bradley additionally backed True Marvel at odds of $251 to win $1 million, whereas 2019 winner Vow And Declare was $31 into $28. Gold Journey additionally shortened, $8.50 into $8.
In the meantime, the saddle Damien Oliver wore on his first winner, Mr Gudbud at Bunbury in 1988, was auctioned and offered to RM Williams for $35,000, with proceeds of the sale going to an equine remedy charity.
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