Volkstok’n’barrell’s 2015 Caulfield Cup lead-up form has not been overly impressive to the naked eye, but trainer Donna Logan believes that the four-year-olds form is better than it looks on paper.
Volkstok’n’barrell has flown under the radar heading into the 2015 Caulfield Cup this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Volkstok’n’barrell was sent to the spelling paddock after he finished third in the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Royal Randwick on April 6 and he returned to the races with a credible seventh place finish behind Boban in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29, but he did not beat home a runner in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 12.
The son of Lord Tavistock produced an improved performance to finish fifth in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 26 and he was ridden aggressively in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 4, but he tired late to finish ninth.
Logan admits that the Caulfield Cup form of Volkstok’n’barrell does not read particularly well on paper, but she believes that the four-year-old has not had a great deal of luck in running and will be better served ridden more conservatively in the 2015 Caulfield Cup.
“His runs look worse than they have been, hence we waited until the last minute to make the decision,” Logan told RSN.
“They have all been very consistent horses, I have just had a question mark about my guy coming in as a four-year-old against these seasoned weight-for-age horses, but on paper he has been a couple of lengths off them every time.
“We haven’t had the best of runs luckwise in terms of where we have ended up in the running and when you look at the form going through the previous races it is pretty strong.
“He is ready now and he is peaking at his best.”
Volkstok’n’barrell and Mongolian Khan were the two star three-year-olds in New Zealand last season and they are set to clash for the seventh time in the Caulfield Cup.
Mongolian Khan is currently available at 2015 Caulfield Cup odds of $4.40 and is a clear favourite in betting with Ladbrokes, while Volkstok’n’barrell is priced at $26, but Logan believes that is a far price for Mongolian Khan based on his impressive effort in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield last weekend.
“I think that Mongolian Khan’s run the other day was just super and it was absolutely incredible,” Logan said.
“I think that he is justified to be the favourite.”
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