Bruno Cannatelli
The wide open spaces of Flemington will be a major plus for Jon Snow in next Tuesday’s A$6.2 million Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
“The main thing for him is getting away from Caulfield and on to a bigger track will really suit him,” said Andrew Forsman, who trains the four-year-old with Murray Baker.
Jon Snow finished third two runs back in the Gr.1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) before he copped interference when unplaced in the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).
“He’s doing well and he had a good gallop this morning and Stephen Baster is happy that the horse is on target,” Forsman said.
“It’s hard to go into a race like this too confident when they haven’t run the trip before and the form lines are so hard to work out, but he is very well.”
Jon Snow has been ridden throughout his Melbourne campaign by Baster, who will be aboard in the Cup.
Darryl Sherer
Meanwhile, Weather With You has made good progress since his victory in the Listed Geelong Classic (2200m), an effort that booked his spot in Saturday’s Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m).
“That was his last chance to put his hand up and he did that,” Forsman said.
“The blinkers obviously helped and the other big difference was the handy draw so he could be ridden more positively.”
Mark Zahra was aboard at Geelong and he will again ride Weather With You, the stable’s only Derby runner with the decision to bypass the race with Vin De Dance.
“It’s just too soon for him,” Forsman said. “He’s been thrown in the deep end a bit and I think he’s done very well for a horse who still doesn’t know what it’s all about.”
Third at Caulfield in his Australian debut and fifth behind Aloisia in the Gr.2 Moonee Valley Vase, Vin De Dance will make his next appearance in the Listed Batman Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on November 17. – NZ Racing Desk.