Melbourne Cup Favourite To Trial On Friday

Melbourne Cup favourite The Offer will contest a barrier trial over 1250 metres at Royal Randwick on Friday as he continues to build towards the start of his 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign.

The Offer stamped himself as 2014 Melbourne Cup favourite with a dominant win in the Sydney Cup.

The Offer stamped himself as 2014 Melbourne Cup favourite with a dominant win in the Sydney Cup. Photo by: Steve Hart

The Offer has not been seen at the races since he scored a dominant four lengths win in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick on April 19, but he impressed with a strong third in a barrier trial at Royal Randwick on July 18 and all reports from the stable of trainer Gai Waterhouse are very positive.

Waterhouse is yet to decide when The Offer will start his spring preparation, but the leading trainer confirmed yesterday that the son of Montjeu would head straight to Melbourne after contesting the barrier trial on Friday.

The Offer will be joined in the barrier trial over 1250 metres by a number of stablemates including Aussies Love Sport, Liberty’s Choice, Michelangelo, Order Of The Sun, Pheidon, Role Model and Woodbine.

Aussies Love Sport was restricted to just one race start during the autumn and was sent back to the spelling paddock after he failed to beat home a single runner in the Listed Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) and will be making his first public appearance this preparation.

Michelangelo has had just once race start in Australia since he joined the Waterhouse stable at the end of 2012, finishing at the tail of the field in the Listed Premier’s Cup (1800m), and has been tagged by ‘the slowest horse in Australia’ due to his poor performances in a couple of barrier trials in the autumn.

However, the son of Galileo produced an improved effort when sixth in a barrier trial over 1030 metres at Rosehill Gardens on June 10 and Waterhouse is hoping that she will be able to get the Group 1 placegetter back to the races during the spring.

Liberty’s Choice and Pheidon both campaigned in Brisbane during the winter, while Order Of The Sun was sent to Adelaide for the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) before returning to Sydney to contest the Listed W J McKell Cup (2400m).

The only non Waterhouse-trained runner in the acceptances for the opening barrier trial at Royal Randwick this Friday is Chris Waller-trained My Kingdom Of Fife.

My Kingdom Of Fife is not expected to contest the barrier trial and he is likely to be included in the acceptances for the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) that will be run at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The Offer is currently on top of the 2014 Melbourne Cup betting market with Ladbrokes Australia at a quote of $13.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.