Trainer Gai Waterhouse is confident that Melbourne Cup hopeful The Offer is ready to run a big race in the 2014 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
The Offer will have the chance to record a second win at Group 1 level in the 2014 Turnbull Stakes this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
The Offer stared his 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a promising fifth in the Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 6 and the race was not run to suit when he finished ninth in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 20.
Waterhouse told TVN that she believes The Offer could have fought out the finish if he was settled closer to the speed in the Underwood Stakes and she is confident that the Montjeu gelding is a genuine winning chance in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) this weekend.
“He hasn’t found himself in the right spot in races and he was too far back on Saturday,” Waterhouse said.
“He certainly ran home in eye catching fashion as did the winner.
“I honestly believe that if he was running where the winner was he would have fought out the finish.
“We live to fight another battle and I am delighted with him.
“I am expecting him to run one hell of a race.
“You put your money on him and he will be right there.
“He needs a bit of speed to get him into the race, but he is a very exciting stayer and anyone that has ridden him says that he feels like a very good horse.”
The Offer completed a testing piece of trackwork at Flemington yesterday morning and he impressed onlookers with a strong piece of work.
Waterhouse said that The Offer worked fabulous and she remains confident that the imported stayer is on track to be at his peak for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 18 and the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4.
“Stephen Arnold rode him this morning over a mile at Flemington and it was lovely searching, stretch and extending type of work,” Waterhouse said.
“He came in and said that he had a healthy blow and felt terrific.
“He is a very strong horse, he is a very big gelding, he has a presence about himself, he loves his work and he races very genuinely.”
The Offer remains favourite in the 2014 Melbourne Cup betting market with Ladbrokes Australia and he is available at Melbourne Cup odds of $11.
