Saptapadi has drawn well with barrier 6 for the Caulfield Cup

The Brian Ellison trained Saptapadi has so far been one of the best backed runners in the Caulfield Cup with punters flooding in to get a piece of the European six year old.

While on paper his first up 8th in the Herbert Power Stakes doesn’t look overly special it was the manner of his run that has got a few excited.

Saptapadi jumped from gate 15 in that event and was left with no choice but to be caught worse than midfield in a tricky position.

He was sent for home early on the bend but ended up the second widest runner covering a heap of extra ground.

He battled on from there though and impressed many with his closing furlong.

In the Caulfield Cup tomorrow things should be a better for him with a gun draw in barrier six.

That, in combination with the natural improvement he’ll take in fitness makes him a really good prospect according to Ellison.

“The horse is really well, had his final canter this morning, bloods right everything’s right,” he said.

One concern for the horse could be the seven day back up but Ellison thinks he should be ok.

“When they come under pressure you find out if they can back up but the way I feel about him at the moment then yeah I think he’ll back up,” he said.

Ellison also insists he has enough early pace to make the most of his inside draw.

“He’s not your slow staying horse, he’s got plenty of speed to run a mile and a half,” he said.

“Ability is there he’s got plenty of pace, as long as we can hold our own over the first 400m and get a possie we’ll be a chance.”

While Saptapadi runs tomorrow in the Caulfield Cup Ellison’s other big spring hope Moyenne Corniche will get his chance next Wednesday after impressing so much first up.

“I was going to wait for the Lexus but I’ve put him in the Geelong Cup just because he’s so well,” he said.