Tres Blue has been one of the biggest drifters in 2013 Melbourne Cup betting markets since the barrier draw was conducted on Saturday but jockey Tommy Berry is confident that the French stayer will feature in the finish of ‘the race that stops a nation’.
Tres Blue is now out to 2013 Melbourne Cup odds of $26 but Tommy Berry is confident that he is a contender. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
The Northern Hemisphere three-year-old was very well backed in the week leading up to the Melbourne Cup but has received very little support since he drew towards the outside of the field in barrier 20 on Saturday.
Tres Blue was purchased by Round Table Racing and joined the stable of Gai Waterhouse after recording a number of impressive performances in Europe during the 2013 racing season.
The Anabaa Blue entire finished a narrow second in the Group 1 Sparda Deutsches Derby (2413m) in Germany before recording strong victories in the Group 3 Osaf Prix De Reux (2500m) and the Group 2 Grand Prix De Deauville (2500m) in France.
Tres Blue will be stepping up to 3200 metres for the first time in his racing career but Berry said that the Group 2 winner gives him every impression that he will run the trip out strongly and is confident that his mount can defy the Melbourne Cup betting drift at Flemington this afternoon.
“He hasn’t raced over 3200 metres yet but he feels like he will stay all day,” Berry told AAP.
“It’s a very high-pressure race and you have to save everything for the last 200 metres.
“It’s a long way down the straight.
“I believe I am on the right horse to do it, so it makes it a lot easier.”
While Berry is confident that Tres Blue can cape off what has already been a stellar calendar year, he rates Melbourne Cup betting favourite Fiorente as the major danger to his chances in the $6 million Group 1 event.
“I’ve been riding Fiorente in work and he has come through the Cox Plate better than what I would have hoped for someone who has to ride against him,” Berry said.
Frenchmen Andreas Rapp bred Tres Blue and still owns a share in the classy entire.
Rapp has come to see his charge take his place in the Melbourne Cup field but admits that another one of the world’s most prestigious races was the original target for Tres Blue this season.
“The intention was to run in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe but (after Round Table Racing got in contact) we chatted about the Melbourne Cup and the idea of bringing him here,” Rapp said.
“We know the race; there have been French winners the last couple of years and it’s very popular in France.”
Berry is riding in the Melbourne Cup for just the second time in his career after finishing sixth on Glencadam Gold in the 2012 edition of the race.
