Jockey Vlad Duric is hoping Voila Ici is on his best behaviour tomorrow and give him every chance to win another Group 1 $2.5m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield.
Voila Ici (pictured inside) will need to be on their best behaviour to win the Caulfield Cup. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Duric was successful on the Danny O’Brien trained Master O’Reilly in the 2007 Cup and is longing to get back into the Group 1 winner’s stall at Caulfield.
Voila Ici resurfaced some of his piggish behaviour when he bailed up on the way to the barriers before the start of the Group 1 $500,000 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 6 and even after over racing did a good job to finish fourth behind Green Moon.
Duric believes that if the Peter Moody trained import keeps his manners under control at Caulfield tomorrow a win in the Group 1 Handicap is a reality.
“I put it down to how he carried on going around to the start. If I can get him there nice and quiet and he does everything right, he’s going to definitely be a chance in the race for sure,” Duric said.
“The other day was a bit of a balls-up, how he carried on going to the start.”
“He got pretty wound up and just wanted to over-race a little bit in front just because he got a little bit wound up going around there.”
Duric is hoping a return to Caulfield will help calm the eight year old so he can repeat the good effort he put in the start before when holding on for second to Ocean Park after setting the pace in the Group 1 $400,000 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 22.
“He gave me a beautiful ride at Caulfield, he settled so well and that’s why I was a bit shocked that he over raced at Flemington on me,” Duric said.
Duric is glad to be back riding in the big Spring races and has worked hard to get back in favour after a three year stint riding in Singapore.
“It’s nice to ride in good races, that’s what we get out of bed for,” Duric said.
“It’s always difficult when you’ve been out of the scene for so long, I was away for just over three years, so you come back and all you can do is work hard and hope for a bit of luck.”
“I was very fortunate when I first came back that Darley took me on and really helped me get myself back up in lights a little bit.”
“I’ve had a lot of luck for them and I think that’s been a big part of it.”
Duric is also hoping that the grey won’t get too fired up in the run down the straight the first time after drawing barrier seventeen in the original draw and will have to cross the field to take up his usual role near or in the lead.
A tactical battle will emerge with the Gai Waterhouse trained Glencadam Gold who has drawn outside Voila Ici and Jim Cassidy will no doubt look to cross to the lead and try and repeat the geldings all the way win in the Group 1 $400,000 McGrath Estate Agents Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on October 6.
Glencadam Gold has retained his spot at the head of markets even after drawing near the outside and is currently $5.50 favourite while Voila Ici is rated a $21 chance.
