Wednesday, 7 October 2009: Champion trainer Bart Cummings fears Denman as the horse that stands between him and a seventh win in Saturday's $1 million Caulfield Guineas.
 | So You Think
Photo by Bronwen Healy | |
|
Cummings, who won his first Caulfield Guineas 43 years ago in 1966 with the filly Storm Queen, regards Saturday's field as the best Guineas line-up he has seen in a decade despite drawing only 11 acceptors.
He provides one of the rising stars of the field in last start Gloaming Stakes winner So You Think but said Denman would be the horse to beat after the barrier draw favoured the Peter Snowden-trained colt.
Denman drew gate seven while So You Think has to contend with widest barrier (11).
However Cummings, who passed up last Saturday's Group One Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick with So You Think to target the Guineas, is not discounting his colt's chances.
“I think he is alright. His form has been outstanding so we'll see what happens,” said the master of understatement.
So You Think's jockey Michael Rodd, who will be riding the colt for the first time in a race, is seeking a second Guineas win after last year's victory aboard Whobegotyou.
Rodd is fearful a slow place will upset his chances.
“The biggest problem will be that the pace might not be on, especially with the way the barrier draw has unfolded,” Rodd said.
“They're just going to come out and go pretty steady I would imagine. My bloke's probably going to have to go back to get in so it's probably going to take a bit of luck.”
Gai Waterhouse had no concerns after she sent Manhattan Rain to Caulfield on Tuesday for a workout on the course proper with race jockey Blake Shinn.
Manhattan Rain galloped over 1400m on the outside of the track and left Waterhouse content with his strong work over the last 200m.
“He had a good blow and definitely needed the hit out but the style and strength of his work was excellent,” Waterhouse reported.
“I trotted him up back at the stalls as is my custom and he looked free in his action and was bright as a button.”
Shinn is staying in Melbourne for the week and will ride Manhattan Rain again in his work at Flemington on Thursday.
