Marmelo’s Caulfield Cup odds have shorten slightly after champion jockey Hugh Bowman gave the British stayer a glowing report following a track gallop during the week.
Jockey Hugh Bowman, above, rides Marmelo in the 2017 Caulfield Cup. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.
Bowman has been to the Werribee International Horse Centre where the Hughie Morrison trained Marmelo is being quarantined on several occasions to get acquainted with the five year old who has firmed in from $20 to be marked at $17 on Thursday morning at Ladbrokes.com.au.
On Tuesday morning Bowman rode Marmelo in a 1000m gallop and said that the seasoned stayer felt ready to run a mighty race in the Group 1 $3.15m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
“He had a pretty firm gallop on Friday and I feel that it did its job because he was much more on the bridle today (Tuesday), much more alert and aware of what he was up to,” Bowman told racing.com.
“We basically went five (furlongs) at evens and he was very comfortable so I let him breeze up the last 100m, 200m or so.
“Any decent sort of horse is going to work well doing that sort of work but he’s certainly much more alert than the first couple of times I rode him.”
“He’s here for the Melbourne Cup and the Caulfield Cup is obviously a good stepping stone towards that but judging on what I’m feeling I think he’ll run a very good race on Saturday.
“I just want a trouble-free run and if things go our way there’s no reason why he can’t win the race.”
Morrison trains out of his East Ilsley stables at Berkshire in England and has had success with Marmelo on his home turf as well as two wins in France, including his last start victory in the Group 2 €130,000 Darley Prix Kergorlay (3000m) at Deauville on August 20.
Marmelo was also a winner over 3000m at Chantilly in France in the Group 3 €80,000 Prix De Barbeville on April 30 while his other win was at Doncaster in England when he broke through for his maiden victory over 2414m in July 2016.
Marmelo will carry the second top weight of 55kg in the Caulfield Cup and will jump from barrier ten in the seventeen horse field.
The Aidan O’Brien trained Johannes Vermeer is a clear favourite at $4.40 for the Caulfield Cup with Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of the Darren Weir trained stablemates Humidor at $8 and Amelie’s Star at $9.
