The latest Caulfield Cup betting has the Gai Waterhouse trained The Offer at long odds as the Sydney Cup winner faces another veterinary check before the running of the $3m Spring Carnival staying feature today at Caulfield.
Sydney Cup winner The Offer, above, is now a $26 chance in the Caulfield Cup. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Offer was passed fit to run yesterday after recovering from a mystery lameness that prompted Waterhouse to ask Racing Victoria stewards to inspect the six year old before race day.
Racing Victoria vet Dr Brian Stewart ran the ruler over The Offer at Waterhouse’s Flemington base but could find no problems and passed him fit to run but will give the Montjeu six year old another inspection today at 2.40pm, Melbourne time, on course prior to the running of the Group 1 $3m Crown Golden Ale Caulfield Cup (2400m).
“He is good to go, it was an unexplained lameness, that will happen from time to time, it could be a bit of arthritis flaring up or something else, you can see it from time to time,” Dr Stewart told TVN after the first inspection on Friday.
“He is back to normal this morning, we did a thorough examination and can’t find any sign of any issues, we have ticked him off and he is okay.
“Gai called Terry Bailey (chief steward) yesterday to say he was not 100 per cent in her estimation, they had their farrier and their vet look at him, this morning he is pretty much back to normal, that will happen time to time.”
The Offer has failed to regain his winning Sydney Autumn Carnival form at his three runs this Spring and after being near the top of the market order after taking out the Group 1 $1m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on April 19, the Irish import is now marked as $26 chance with Ladbrokes.com.au.
The Offer’s lead up Caulfield Cup form kicked off with an eye catching fifth to The Cleaner in the Group 2 $250,000 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 6 followed by a ninth to Foreteller in the Group 1 $400,000 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 20.
Then at his latest start The Offer was always well back in the field and was beaten just over four lengths when sixth to Caulfield Cup favourite Lucia Valentina in the Group 1 $500,000 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 4.
The Offer has also drawn out wide in the eighteen horse field and will give rider Tommy Berry plenty of work to do from gate sixteen.
Latest Caulfield Cup market order: $4.40 Lucia Valentina, $9.00 Junoob, $9.50 Brambles, $10 Admire Rakti, $13 Who Shot Thebarman, $14 Rising Romance, $18 Hawkspur, $21 Seismos, Moriarty, Stipulate, $26 The Offer, $31 Big Memory.
