With the exception of Black Caviar Anthony Freedman is probably in charge of the most hyped race horse to run this spring carnival.

Lucas Cranach has been the undoubted market mover for the 2011 Melbourne Cup, even without an Australian start his price continuing to plummet.

We will finally see if all the hype was worth it or not this weekend when he runs first up in the 2011 Caulfield Cup.

Freedman has no choice but to have the horse just about right on top form for the race as they can’t afford any slip ups with the first Tuesday in November now drawing very close.

“We’re very happy with him, has had a good prep, he’s done a tonne of work…he’s pretty much ready to go,” he said.

“The longer he’s here the more settled he’s become.”

Lucas Cranach has been subject to a big betting move thanks entirely to his form back home, form which has continued to strengthen despite the fact he’s been in quarantine.

Last start in the Preis Von Berlin he was a tough fifth behind Danedream, she then came out and won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, arguably the world’s best race.

“He rates up very well on his European form and obviously it was franked through the Arc the other day,” freedman said.

“All the signs are there that he’ll be competitive and up to this level here and the horse is very fit and well.”

In reality though nobody ever truly knows how a horse will cope first up after travelled across the globe so they’ll have to wait and see what he produces in the Caulfield Cup.

“Obviously well know a bit more about him Saturday, our only concern is that this might not be his track,” he said.

Caulfield has caught out many a horse in the past but the risk is worth it when you look at the reward on offer.

“A race worth this much money we just couldn’t bypass it,” he said.

Freedman says the track doesn’t need to be rain affected as such but they just don’t want it too hard.

“It raced well on Saturday but I think we’d still like to see some showers this week,” he said.

“He doesn’t need soft ground but he just doesn’t need the track we had a few weeks ago.”

Lucas Cranach will be ridden by Corey Brown in his Cup’s campaign and reports are so far they’re getting on well.

“He likes the horse, he gave him a good feel, he’ll be a lot better for the ride on him,” Freedman said.

“He’s not a difficult horse to ride…he just takes a bit of riding.”