Melbourne Cup winning German trainer Andreas Wohler is not certain who is behind the betting move for his stayer Articus but said that the five year old is in great order heading into Saturday’s Group 1 $3m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield.
German trainer Andreas Wohler, above, will saddle up Articus in the Caulfield Cup at Caulfield. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.
Articus was at long double figures in early betting the for the Caulfield Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au and after as much as $41 being offered, the well performed German stayer now shares the third line of betting at $8.50 with the Darren Weir trained Real Love.
“I’m really surprised,” Wohler told racing.com at track work on Wednesday morning.
“When we planned to come over he was 50/1 and he’s one figure now, I think.”
Wohler has no concern that Articus has drawn just worse than midfield at barrier eleven and can see last year’s Caulfield Cup winning jockey Zac Purton giving him a sweet run in the middle of the pack.
“I think that’s good enough,” Wohler said.
“It could be worse.
“Something in the middle (was what we were after) and we’re not far from the middle.
“Hopefully it’s an even, fast-run race and I would like to sit midfield where the jockey will be happy.”
Wohler also has great respect for Godolphin’s English stayer Scottish who will be ridden by Kerrin McEvoy and will jump from barrier seven and Lee and Anthony Freedman’s European import Exospheric who will jump from gate three with Damien Oliver in the saddle.
“You shouldn’t underestimate Scottish,” Wohler said.
“He’s a good horse and Exospheric; he had good form in Europe. But they all have to show it here as well.”
Articus was a winner two starts back in the Group 3 €55.000 Maxios Trophy (2000m) at Hannover in Germany on July 12 but at his latest outing could only manage to run fifth in the Group 1 €155,000 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis – Bayerisches Zuchtrennen (2012m) at Munich in Germany on July 31.
Wohler has had previous success over the Melbourne Spring Carnival when he saddled up Protectionist to win the 2014 Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Market order for the Caulfield Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.50 Jameka, $7.50 Scottish, $8.50 Real Love, Articus, $10 Exospheric, $11 Sir Isaac Newton, $16 Tally, Sir John Hawkwood, $26 Preferment, Tarzino, Our Ivanhowe, Sacred Master, $34 Set Square, $51 Almoonqith, $61 Pemberley, $71 Big Money, $81 De Little Engine, $101 Fanatic, Go Dreaming, $201 Vengeur Masque.
