Punters will know where to look throughout the race if they’re on the favourite Johannes Vermeer in Saturday’s Caulfield Cup 2017 field with connections confirming a positive ride for the raider.
Jockey Ben Melham will settle 2017 Caulfield Cup favourite Johannes Vermeer third – fifth in the 17-horse field on Saturday. Photo: Adrienne Bicknell.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Irish visitor is the top fancy in markets for the Group 1 $3.15 million BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) and has local boy Ben Melham in the saddle for the mile-and-a-half-classic.
Racing Victoria stewards have been informed by five-time Melbourne Cup winning owner and majority shareholder of Johannes Vermeer Lloyd Williams that the Galileo entire will take advantage of the gun barrier two draw and go forward soon after the Caulfield Cup jump at 4:30pm (AEDT).
Melham was thrilled at Tuesday morning’s Caulfield Cup barrier draw coming up with gate two, which last produced a winner in the David Hayes-trained import Tawqeet (2006).
He replaces Katelyn Mallyon aboard Johannes Vermeer in the Caulfield Cup field after Mallyon rode the galloper first-up down under last weekend.
Johannes Vermeer was ultra-impressive in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Classic (2000m) flying home from a worse than midfield position in his Australian debut to finish runner-up to Gailo Chop.
That saw him charge to the top of Caulfield Cup betting at Ladbrokes.com.au, his quote now $4.40, after the 400/200m sectionals revealed he had run the third fastest of last Saturday.
He won’t be quite so far back on Saturday however with a change of tactics in order, Melham instructed to settle third – fifth behind the Caulfield Cup front runners in the 17 starter field.
Johannes Vermeer is likely to be chasing a fellow Williams-owned stayer in the local Robert Hickmott-trained European expat Sir Isaac Newton.
Seventh in the Caulfield Cup results last year, fellow Galileo progeny Sir Isaac Newton is a roughie hope at $61 to salute this weekend on the back of a Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) fifth to Winx at Flemington.
Mallyon is on the horse this weekend from the outside draw (17 of 17) and she will be allowing Sir Isaac Newton to roll forward without restraint with the intention to lead.
The quick back-up was a non-issue for Johannes Vermeer back home this time in 2015 when he improved on a Doncaster Group 1 second at a mile to win a Group 1 at Saint-Cloud in with seven days between runs.
He is only lightly-raced and if he produces that same late speed stepping up to 2400m on the weekend is every chance to become the third favourite in Caulfield Cup betting in as many years to get the job done.
To back the Caulfield Cup 2017 favourite to win at the right spring racing odds head to Ladbrokes.com.au today.
