Araldo will likely be settled towards the tail of the 2014 Melbourne Cup field and trainer Mike Moroney is hoping that there is plenty of early speed in the race to give the imported the best possible chance of taking out the Group 1 event at Flemington this afternoon.
Araldo will need plenty of luck from the outside gate to win the 2014 Melbourne Cup at Flemington this afternoon. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Araldo has had no luck with barrier draws during his 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign to date and he was forced to settle at the tail of the field in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Royal Randwick on October 4 before running home strongly to finish third and followed a similar formula when fifth in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), despite the race being run at an extremely slow tempo.
Moroney said that he could not have been happier with the performance of Araldo in the Caulfield Cup and he is hoping that the 2014 Melbourne Cup is run at a more genuine speed in the early stages.
“From what happened during the run and where he was at the half mile, his run was terrific,” Moroney said of Araldo’s Caulfield Cup performance.
“The end part of his sectionals were really good, but he just gave them too much of a start from that draw.
“I would rather draw there at Flemington than at Caulfield and it is a different race.
“Most Cups are reasonably truly run, sometimes they are not, and if it is truly run that is our best chance.
“If it is not it is going to be in the lap of the gods from that draw.”
Araldo looked as though he could miss out on a place in the 2014 Melbourne Cup field, but he moved closer to a guaranteed start following the withdrawal of The Offer last weekend and Moroney elected not to include the High Chaparral entire in the acceptances for the Group 3 Lexus Stakes (2500m).
That gamble paid off when Araldo secured a place in the field after Green Moon was removed due to injury and Moroney said that he was pleased to get the imported galloper into the Melbourne Cup without having to run him on Victoria Derby Day.
“We have had a little bit of luck that way without any doubt,” Moroney said.
“We didn’t want to run on Saturday and we took a bit of a punt and it worked out.
“He seems really well and he ate well overnight, so everything is good.”
Araldo is currently available at 2014 Melbourne Cup odds of $26 and is rated by many racing experts as one of the best outsiders in the field.
