Top Melbourne jockey Craig Newitt is expecting a good Caulfield Cup result from the former German stayer Seismos after partnering him in his final serious hit out before Saturday at the TAB International Horse Centre in Werribee this morning.
Jockey Craig Newitt will ride Seismos in the Caulfield Cup at Caulfield. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Seismos will be wearing a set of winkers for the first time under race conditions in the Group 1 $3m Crown Golden Ale Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield and Newitt was impressed with the Marco Bottti trained stayer with the head gear on at trackwork this morning.
“The winkers have definitely sharpened him up and put him right on the ball so I’m looking forward to Saturday,” Newitt told Racing.com.
Seismos worked with high profile stablemate Dandino and after cantering for one circuit of the Werribee track, sat about a 100m off his Caulfield Cup rival who clocked 39.4 for the last 600m of the gallop.
Seismos has done most of his racing in France and Germany before being taken over by Newmarket trainer Marco Botti who has been in charge of the Dalakhani seven year old for his last three runs, including a last start win in the Group 3 £60,000 Betfred TV Geoffrey Freer Stakes (1 mile 5 ½ furlongs) at Newbury on August 16.
While under the care of his previous trained Andreas Wohler, Seismos collected a Group 1 victory in the 2013 €150,000 Grosser Preis von Bayern (2400m) at Munich in Germany.
Newitt is certain to take advantage of the rails barrier draw and have Seismos positioned in the first half a dozen in the field, the racing pattern that he is used to.
Australian Thorougbred Bloodstock race both Seismos and Dandino and were left pondering after the Dandino drew the outside of the field and will jump from gate eighteen.
Dandino was handed a similar barrier in last year’s Caulfield Cup and after jumping from barrier sixteen, came from near last on the home turn to finish one and quarter lengths second to Fawkner.
Seismos is currently a $26 chance for the Caulfield Cup with Ladbrokes.com.au but Managing co-owner Darren Dance is confident that he will be right in the finish.
“I think that he will surprise a few people,” Dance said.
“I know that the horse has been a lot sharper at Werribee compared to how he was back at home at Newmarket.
“He is really thriving, he loves it and he is really keen to work with the other horses.”
The Kris Lees trainer Lucia Valentina continues to hold her spot at the top of the market order and is a solid $4.60 favourite ahead of the two Japanese stayers Bande at $7.50 and Admire Rakti at $11.
The Peter Moody trained Lidari is at $13 just ahead of Junoob and Brambles at $14 while Dandino is marked at $15, Rising Romance at $16, and Dear Demi and Who Shot Thebarman are at $17.
