News

Waller on his Metal ahead of Caulfield Cup

13th Oct 2010

Racing Victoria - Wednesday, 13 October 2010

If Chris Waller is nervous ahead of Saturday’s $2.5 million BMW Caulfield Cup, he isn’t showing it.

The Sydney trainer is a model of calmness ahead of the 2400-metre feature, in which he will saddle up leading contender Metal Bender.

“We couldn't be happier with him leading into a big race,” Waller said on Tuesday morning. “We believe we've got everything covered, so hopefully the next few days are without incident.

“Whether it's a fast-run race, slow-run race, we can ride him wherever we need to be and obviously with a bit of (bad) weather on its way, that won't really worry us as good or a wet track.”

If he was happy before Wednesday's barrier draw, he wouldn't be shattered after it. Metal Bender drew closest to the fence of the big names, coming up with barrier two.

Under a new initiative by the Melbourne Racing Club, connections got to choose their own barrier when drawn out by Racing Victoria's chief steward Terry Bailey and Waller's three-time Group 1 winner was the seventh horse drawn.

Gai Waterhouse's Metropolitan Handicap winner Herculian Prince was the second horse draw and was given gate six, Mark Kavanagh selected barrier 12 for Shocking (13th horse drawn), while pre-draw favourite Alcopop will start from the outside gate after being the last horse drawn.

Metal Bender will come into barrier one if second emergency Red Ruler doesn't get a run.

TAB Sportsbet reacted by installing the two Sydneysiders $6 equal favourites with Shocking at $7. Alcopop, a $5.50 chance before the draw, is out to $9.

Metal Bender turned in one of the best Caulfield Cup trials of the spring when fourth in the Turnbull Stakes. The five-year-old finished just over a length from Zipping, but failed to find clear running for much of the lengthy Flemington straight.

Waller said it was just the type of performance he wanted to see from the gelding, who will carry 56kg on Saturday and be partnered by gun Sydney hoop Hugh Bowman.

“That was the perfect semi-final run I suppose you could call it,” he said. “It proved that he could get back, switch off and obviously finish the race off strongly.”