Mongolian Khan was allocated gate nine at the 2015 Caulfield Cup barrier draw yesterday and jockey Opie Bosson believes that the gate is ideal for the current Caulfield Cup favourite.
Mongolian Khan remains a clear favourite in 2015 Caulfield Cup betting markets. Photo by: Steve Hart
Mongolian Khan has shown a degree of tactical versatility during his racing career to date, but Bosson is expected to settle Mongolian Khan in the middle of the Caulfield Cup field and he is confident that barrier six – where Mongolian Khan will start if the emergencies are scratched – will allow him to keep the Australian Derby winner out of trouble in the early stages of the race.
“It is ideal,” Bosson told Sky Racing HQ.
“We were hoping to be in the middle somewhere, we didn’t want to draw too far in but with the ballots we are set to come into six.
“I will try and stay out of trouble really.”
Bosson has ridden Mongolian Khan in each of his race starts since he took out the Group 2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa earlier this year and he steered the son of Holy Roman Emperor to victory in both the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) during his autumn campaign.
Mongolian Khan has performed well in each of his three race starts during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival, which was highlighted by his fast-finishing third behind Criterion and Happy Trails, and Bosson believes that the four-year-old is now ready to hit his peak in the 2015 Caulfield Cup this weekend.
“He is coming up perfect,” Bosson said.
“In his last start with a bit of luck he should have just about won, but I was very pleased with the way that he hit the line.
“2400 metres will be ideal and he should be peaking at the right time.
“He is racing a lot more professional and he is hitting the line harder against the better and older horses.
“I am very pleased with the way that he is stepping up.
“He pulls up fine after each race like he hasn’t even had a race and I am really confident going into Saturday.”
Mongolian Khan is currently available at 2015 Caulfield Cup odds of $4.20 with Ladbrokes and he is a dominant favourite from Australian Derby placegetter Hauraki ($8.50), Crown Oaks winner Set Square ($9), Japanese stayer Fame Game ($10), Hardwicke Stakes winner Snow Sky and last year’s runner-up Rising Romance ($11)
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