Melbourne Cup favourite The Offer has jockey Tommy Berry excited after a late finishing first up fifth to The Cleaner in the Group 2 $250,000 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes(1600m) at Moonee Valley last Saturday.
The Offer has held his spot at the top of the Melbourne Cup market order. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Cleaner set a solid tempo up front and held off all challenges in the run to line but The Offer with Berry aboard, put in an eye catching run coming from well back to circle the field on the home turn before running on for fifth, one and three quarter lengths from the winner.
“They went a bit quick for him early but we expected that and I’d be surprised if he didn’t run the fastest last 600, he really ate up the ground late,” Berry said after the race.
“It was well-documented that he was a little bit underdone going into today’s (Saturday’s) run but he’s just got such an amazing turn-of-foot for a stayer.
The Offer, at $13, has held onto his spot at the head of the Ladbrokes.com.au market order for the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington and Berry can’t wait for the first Tuesday in November to roll around.
“He’s come back in such good order and he’s so strong now it’s really got me excited,” Berry said.
“I wish the Melbourne Cup was tomorrow.”
If the The Offer progresses well through the Spring Carnival, the Irish Import could provide trainer Gai Waterhouse with back to back Melbourne Cups after winning the nation’s premier two miler race for the first time last year with English import Fiorente.
The Offer was installed the early Melbourne Cup favourite following a hat trick of wins during the Sydney Autumn Carnival which concluded with a three and three quarter lengths victory in the Group 1 $1m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on April 19.
At his two previous starts The Offer had won the Group 3 Ambassador Travel N E Manion Cup (2400m) at Rosehill and the Group 2 $300,000 Schweppes Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) at Randwick.
In other Melbourne Cup betting the Japanese pair of Bande ($15) and Admire Rakti ($17) are well up in the market order ahead of English stayer Dandino, super Kiwi mare Silent Achiever and the improving La Amistad all at $21.
The Offer also shares favouritism for the Group 1 $2.5m Crown Golden Ale Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 18 with last Saturday’s Randwick winner Lucia Valentina at $15.
Lucia Valentina rocketed up the Caulfield Cup market order after a last to first win in the mud in the Group 2 $175,000 Tattersalls Club Tramway Stakes (1400m) beating Tiger Tees and Toydini.
