Waterhouse predicts a locally-trained Melbourne Cup winner
MELBOURNE Cup-winning trainer Gai Waterhouse knows what it takes to win Australia’s richest race and she believes the local chances can stave off the internationals.
Waterhouse has defended the lack of quality entries in the 2016 Melbourne Cup and states that the major stables are still well represented.
“There are times where you don’t have a vintage year,” Waterhouse said. “I wouldn’t worry too much about it. It might just be one of those years and we might have a really good Cup next year. I think it just ebbs and flows.
“Godolphin might have seven horses and Lloyd (Williams) is going to have four. There are still some pretty hefty numbers involved.”
Waterhouse is seeking a second Melbourne Cup win with Excess Knowledge which is a $61 chance at CrownBet.com.au. The imported runner will be joined by a potential 10 overseas-trained horses, but Waterhouse is sure the winner will be trained by an Australian.
“I’m quite confident in my fellow trainers and I still think one of the locally-trained horses will win,” Waterhouse said. “It’s hard to get a gauge on the Japanese (Curren Mirotic) and you’ve got to respect them as they’re always serious contenders.”
Excess Knowledge finished seventh in the Melbourne Cup last year and after a disappointing run in the Moonee Valley Cup on Saturday, Waterhouse remains confident in its chances next Tuesday.
“He is going under the radar,” Waterhouse said. “He caused his own luck on Saturday and he rolled around like a big whale in the straight. Vlad (Duric) came off him and said, ‘put him in blinkers and I think you’ll get a much better result’.
“He’s got the right weight, he’s a proven performer and he’s probably at the right age to win the Cup, he looks well and I’m extremely pleased.”
Of the top 13 Melbourne Cup chances with Sportsbet.com.au, 2016 Caulfield Cup winner Jameka is the only Australian bred and trained runner.
The Ciaron Maher-trained mare was a stylish winner at Caulfield and is currently on the second line of betting at $5.50 at Sportsbet, behind only the John O’Shea-trained import Hartnell ($4.40).