By Brad Kingsbury
WHILE Caulfield Cup-winning trainer Bart Cummigs quipped that his Hong Kong owner could not afford the airfare to attend Saturday’s race, jockey Vlad Duric was more than happy that he made the whirlwind 24-hour round trip back from Singapore on the weekend.
The 34-year-old Nar Nar Goon hoop completed six rides at Friday’s meeting in Singapore, then flew back to partner 2007 winner Master O’Reilly in Saturday’s BMW Caulfield Cup, before returning to the Asian racing centre that evening and completing another book of engagements at a Sunday meeting.
While the schedule allowed little time for Duric to catch up with family and friends, the effort proved well worthwhile because, despite not winning the $2.5 million Group 1 classic for the second time, Master O’Reilly’s slashing finish to the race indicated he was on course for a third tilt at the iconic Melbourne Cup in a fortnight.
Apart from Cup winner Viewed, Master O’Reilly produced the fastest finish over the final 600 metres, coming home from last place just before the turn into the home straight to storm into an unlucky sixth place.
Duric said later that the run was full of merit.
“He just didn’t settle as well as I would have liked early and I was forced to go back from the (wide) gate,” he said.
“We got squeezed by Predatory Pricer and lost our spot so we had to go wide but he balanced up well in the straight. It was a good run towards the Melbourne Cup.”
Denise Sutcliffe, who owns Master O’Reilly with husband Bill, Cranbourne trainer Judy Mawer and Duric’s wife Storm, was thrilled with the effort and praised Duric for his commitment.
“We love Vlad and Storm and the family. It has been such a great time with Master O’Reilly and the families are all really close,” she said after Saturday’s race.
“Vlad is a real professional and he was always coming home to ride in the cups. He knows the horse so well and their record is wonderful.
“I’m sure that I get far more nervous before a race than (Duric) does,” she said with a laugh.
Master O’Reilly’s trainer, Danny O’Brien, who also saddled Caulfield Cup third place-getter Vigor, said everything remained on course for his spring campaign.
“It was a great run with the Melbourne Cup in mind. That was always our main aim but the horse was going so well we thought there was a good chance today,” he said as Master O’Reilly was unsaddled after its Caulfield Cup run.
The trainer said he had not decided whether to top the talented stayer’s spring preparation off with a start in the McKinnon Stakes at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day (Saturday 31 October) but was confident of the galloper’s prospects on the first Tuesday in November.
“He finished eighth in the Melbourne Cup two years ago and then fourth last year. This year it will be first,” he predicted with a laugh.
Master O’Reilly is guaranteed a start in the Melbourne Cup and was quoted on the fifth line of betting at $18 with stable mate Vigor at the start of the week.
