Secret Number is available at the juicy 2016 Melbourne Cup odds of $26, but jockey Stephen Baster is confident that the Godolphin galloper can run a big race.
Secret Number has been well-backed in 2016 Melbourne Cup betting markets. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Secret Number made the trip to Australia last year and finished an unlucky second behind Dandino in the Group 3 Queen’s Cup (2600m) at Flemington on November 7 before he was given 10 months off the scene.
He returned to the races with a comfortable win in the Listed Doonside Cup Stakes (2011m) at Ayr on September 15 and that was enough to convince trainer Saeed Bin Suroor that he was deserving of a trip to Australia for the Melbourne Cup.
Veteran hoop Stephen Baster has been booked to ride Secret Number in the 2016 Melbourne Cup and he told RSN that he was delighted with the feel he received from the Raven’s Pass gelding at track work yesterday.
“I went out and rode him yesterday morning and he is a nice horse,” Baster said.
“He is a lovely horse, he looks well and I couldn’t be happier with him.
“He bowled around on the Pro-Ride track out there at Werribee and he gave me a really nice feel.
“The Japanese horse looked fantastic and Bondi Beach looked fantastic.
“It is obviously hard to go past Oceanographer’s run in the Lexus Stakes the other day.”
Racing Victoria International scout Leigh Jordan has seen plenty of Secret Number since he arrived in quarantine in Australia and he has been impressed with everything that he has seen.
Jordan believes that Secret Number is one of the best roughies in the 2016 Melbourne Cup and he expects him to run a big race.
“Secret Number ran second in the Queen Elizabeth behind Dandino last year,” Jordan said.
“He had a long break and he resumed with a win in the Doonside Cup.
“He is probably a bit of a smokey.”
Secret Number is currently available at 2016 Melbourne Cup odds of $26 with Ladbrokes, while Hartnell ($5.50) remains favourite from Jameka ($8.50) and Oceanographer ($9),
Baster will be having his first ride in the Melbourne Cup since he finished 19th on Barbaricus in the 2008 edition of the race, while he finished third on Aidan O’Brien-trained Mahler in 2007.
