Picture: Bruno Cannatelli
Hong Kong’s Caulfield first-timers should not count on any favours from Aussie rival
Saturday’s Caulfield Cup shall be run 1000’s of kilometres away from Hong Kong, however that doesn’t imply Zac Purton’s aggressive instincts have lessened.
Hong Kong’s champion rider heads a giant group of jockeys from that jurisdiction in Melbourne for the $5 million occasion, a few of whom are but to journey at Caulfield, however they shouldn’t be anticipating any favours from the 2014 Caulfield Cup champion.
“It’s going to be a right-handed monitor, so look to go right-handed,” Purton mentioned with a cheeky grin when requested if he had any recommendation for Andrea Atzeni and Karis Teetan, who shall be making their Caulfield debut within the 2400m occasion.
In Victoria, in fact, races are carried out ‘left-handed’, or anti-clockwise, which is the alternative option to racing in Hong Kong.
Teetan, who rides the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Coco Solar, stays hopeful of getting Purton at a weak second earlier than the race is run at 5.15pm, however can be enthusiastic about catching up with ex-Hong Kong rival Joao Moreira, who rides $4.20 betting websites favorite Buckaroo.
“Zac, he’s a very good man like that, he would really let you understand what he thinks,” Teetan mentioned.
“However I haven’t spoken to him but. I’ll converse to him later, and I’m wanting ahead to going within the jockeys’ room tomorrow and talking to the blokes.”
It’s the first time driving in Melbourne for Teetan, who left residence at 13 to pursue a profession as a rider in South Africa and is now firmly established as considered one of Hong Kong’s elite.
Coco Solar, who defeated the colts and geldings to win this yr’s Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m), is but to position in three runs this time in however Teetan will head to the races assured she has been skilled to peak this weekend.
“She received the Derby, so she stays the journey and the McEvoy household are very pleased with the preparation,” Teetan mentioned on Friday.
“He final run was good in that agency going, she pulled up good, and I believe that they’re constructive for tomorrow.”
Teetan, 34, deliberate to stroll the Caulfield monitor on Friday afternoon, as did Atzeni, who has the journey on Zardozi, however the 33-year-old will not be counting on Purton for the recommendation that he hopes will lead him to a Caulfield Cup to go together with the Sydney Cup he received earlier this yr on Circle Of Fireplace.
The Italian who learnt his commerce in England turned to shut pal and two-time Caulfield Cup winner Mark Zahra and 2008 champion Kerrin McEvoy for pointers.
“I spoke to Mark Zahra, he clearly received it final yr, and I spoke to (Kerrin) McEvoy, he really rode Zardozi earlier than so he gave me a number of tips on her and the monitor and the race itself,” Atzeni mentioned.
“It undoubtedly helps. Additionally, they’re not within the race, so that they’re not a rival.”
Atzeni considers the James Cummings-trained Zardozi a fantastic likelihood, particularly with the prospect of a rain-affected monitor.
“She’s clearly in with a light-weight weight and The Metropolitan run was a fantastic run,” Atzeni mentioned.
“She’s had a number of runs this yr (season) and he or she appears to be like like she’s improved each run and on the again of that final run with the sunshine weight, you’d assume she’d be very, very aggressive.”
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