Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
With a spring in her step, Gai Waterhouse is confident imported stayer The Euphrates can bounce back at Bendigo to give her her a two-pronged attack in the Melbourne Cup.
Waterhouse and co-trainer Adrian Bott will saddle evergreen veteran Vauban in Australia’s most famous race, while The Euphrates is seeking to secure his place through Wednesday’s Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m).
It comes after the six-year-old son of Frankel finished unplaced in last week’s Geelong Cup (2400m), having led for most of the race.
The Euphrates sits just outside the cut line in 25th on the order of entry for the Melbourne Cup, which has a capacity field of 24. A win at Bendigo will almost certainly satisfy qualification criteria to clinch a start at Flemington next Tuesday.
Asked why she believes The Euphrates can win in Bendigo, Waterhouse was blunt.
“He just can. Horses do it, trainers do it,” the first lady of Australian racing said.
“I was disappointed at first (with the Geelong run) but he pulled his front shoe off and it’s a track that … may not suit an import having his first time in Victoria.
“He’s a softer horse … but that doesn’t mean that he’s not very talented. I just think he needed Geelong as a step along.”
The Euphrates has four wins in 15 starts, but none at Group 1 level, though he did win a Group 2 at Randwick in September, having taken a Listed event in his native Ireland.
He’s a 60kg topweight for the Bendigo Cup and is rated a $7.50 chance with Jett Stanley on board, behind the Ciaron Maher-trained Kings Valley ($4.20), Bjorn Baker’s So You Are ($4.20) and Danny O’Brien’s Litzdeel ($6).
“He’s a very exciting horse,” Waterhouse said.
“He’s very light on his feet. He’s still sort of probably a year away but he’s very talented.”
Waterhouse is hopeful The Euphrates, who won the Group 2 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) and placed third in the Group 2 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick last month, can handle a busy schedule fifth-up in Bendigo.
“If he doesn’t, he won’t be racing in the (Melbourne Cup),” she said.
“It’s not for the faint-hearted, is it, the Melbourne Cup? So hopefully he’ll measure up.”
Waterhouse, who won the 2013 Melbourne Cup with Fiorente, is also hopeful Vauban can finally deliver in his fourth attempt at the race that stops a nation.
The gelding contested the Cup twice for legendary Irish trainer Willie Mullins, running 14th as favourite in 2023, and 11th the year after. Transferred to Sydney-based Waterhouse-Bott, he finished a solid sixth last year.
“I know it sounds stupid to say, but he’s a nine-year-old and he’s only just matured,” Waterhouse said.
“When he first came here, every time he’d look at something he’d get a bit shock-horror.
“But here (at Flemington) he’s a cool dude. He loves running and he’s ready to rock and roll. He’ll run very well.”
