The 2014 Caulfield Cup winner will be decided this afternoon and jockey Craig Newitt believes that Seismos is worthy of being considered one of the leading chances for the Group 1 event.
Craig Newitt is hoping to win his first Caulfield Cup when he rides Seismos in the Group 1 event this afternoon. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Seismos will be making his Australian racing debut in the Caulfield Cup and he will be taking winning form into the race after scoring a tough staying win over Willing Foe, Seal Of Approval and Red Cadeaux in the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes (2670m) at Newbury on August 16.
Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock owner Darren Dance said earlier in the week that Seismos was a dour sort of stayer, but Newitt told Racing Ahead this morning that he has been impressed with the speed that the Dalakhani gelding has shown in his trackwork since arriving in Australia.
“I have been on him three times and the first time that I rode him he only sort of strolled round through a nice canter and he was a little bit of a lazy European stayer,” Newitt said.
“The second time that I worked him with Dandino, (assistant trainer) Paul Francis couldn’t believe how close he worked to Dandino and he said that back home he doesn’t get within ten lengths of him.
“Last Wednesday we put the winkers on him and he was a different horse; he really sparked up with them on.
“We are expecting him to be a little sharper today.”
Japanese stayer Bande was set to be the early leader in the 2014 Caulfield Cup, but following his withdrawal the connections of a number of horses have expressed interest at pressing forward in the early stages of the race and Newitt is no exception.
Newitt said that he is hoping to take advantage of the inside barrier draw for Seismos and settle him towards the Caulfield Cup field before asking the tough gelding for an extra effort a long way from home.
“It will interesting to see how it is run today especially with the Japanese horse coming out,” Newitt said.
“There looks like there will be six and seven all wanting to be in the box seat.
“I have drawn the fence and it might be look out coming through the post for the first time.
“He is a horse that needs a bit of winding up in his races and I might need to make a bit of use with him from the inside gate and hopefully get off the fence at the right time and wind him up.
“I spoke to Marco (Botti) this morning and he is of the opinion, especially after the scratchings that we will try and be as close as we can and from the 600 and 700 just keep winding him up.
“He said that he is a very strong stayer who doesn’t always break from the gates so that is probably going to be my main aim today to get him out and get him rolling.”
There has been plenty of support for Seismos in the last 24 hours and he is now into Caulfield Cup odds of $21 to deliver Newitt his first win in the $3 million event.
