Weir Not Worried About Track for Caulfield Cup 2017 Top Weight

October 20, 2017

Weir Not Worried About Track for Caulfield Cup 2017 Top Weight

Darren Weir believes that Saturday’s 2017 Caulfield Cup top weight Humidor can be just as effective at the track as he is at Flemington despite what the horse’s record shows.

Darren Weir

Trainer Darren Weir has no concerns about Humidor on the tighter track in the 2017 Caulfield Cup this Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The Teofilo five-year-old is on the drift at Ladbrokes.com.au out from $6.50 to $8 to take out the Group 1 $3.15 million BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) in a first for Weir.

Humidor comes down from 59kg at WFA to 56kg on the weekend stepping up to the mile-and-a-half after a credible third to Winx in Flemington’s Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) where he did a few things wrong.

Prior to that the gelding was ultra-impressive saluting over the Flemington mile defeating Hartnell by over three lengths in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).

Despite the post-Makybe Diva Stakes hype suggesting Humidor could be the horse to end the Winx winning streak, Weir never thought that was a likely scenario.

“Everyone built up the expectations because he won the Makybe Diva so well that he’d test Winx. In my mind he was never going to be able to do that,” Weir said on RSN.

“I was still happy with the run, I thought his last 600m was good, he ran through the line well. The only disappointing part from our point of view was the way he wanted to lay in.”

Weir knows that the punters would prefer to back Humidor at Flemington than Caulfield considering the stayer has had five runs at the latter for just the two second place finishes.

The master trainer though remains confident track bias is a non-issue on Saturday and still has Humidor as a winning chance in the race with a number of gear changes scheduled.

“If the race was at Flemington you would say he would be a better chance just looking at his record, but I’m not worried about Caulfield at all,” he said.

“We’re hoping his manners are going to be fine and he has finally drawn a barrier that we can race in the first half instead of the back half.”

Helping to straighten Humidor up the tongue-tie comes back on and the galloper will also race with a near side bubble cheeker for the first time.

Weir lost his major Caulfield Cup contender earlier in the week with the OTI Racing-owned Japanese import Admire Deus suffering a career ending leg injury.

Humidor is the better fancied of his two remaining chances just ahead of the in-form Amelie’s Star ($9) in the latest Caulfield Cup odds.

There’s plenty to suggest that Humidor can salute including the fact Jameka (2nd in 2016) franked the Turnbull Stakes form last year, the fifth Caulfield Cup winner out of that race in eight years.

What Humidor will have to overcome is the seemingly forgotten Lindsay Park-trained import Ventura Storm who finished one closer to Winx in the Turnbull Stakes.

Still a maiden down under, the Zoffany entire presents as a value Caulfield Cup tip at $12 with plenty of upside, a gun barrier four draw and four-time winning hoop Damien Oliver in the saddle.

Caulfield Cup Day though is the Grand Final for Humidor and Weir will have the horse peaking.

Amelie’s Star is drawn tougher in barrier 13, but Craig Williams rides the 51kg lightweight who easily accounted for her rivals with the two length Group 2 The Bart Cummings (2500m) win at Flemington last time out.

Back Weir’s Caulfield Cup horses at the best price this weekend online through Ladbrokes.com.au.

Racing fields and data are copyright 2011-2021 © Racing Australia Pty Ltd (RA) (and other parties working with it).
Racing materials, including fields, form and results, is subject to copyright which is owned by RA and other parties working with it. Full copyright notice.

Spring Racing

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field �...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Danny O’Brien’s 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare continues to show a...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbott...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Bjron Baker’s The Everest performer Overpass is tipped to return to winning...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 R...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro four-year-old Osipenko is firm favourite in...

2023 Railway Stakes Field ...

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

The Lindsey Smith-trained top-weight Tuvalu is narrow favourite in the latest...

Horse Racing Today

2024 The Galaxy Results: Zapat...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: L...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Co-trainer Gai Waterhouse extended her record to eight victories in the 2024...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winne...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Veight joined an elite list of three-year-olds to beat home the older horses...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results:...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Chris Waller’s VRC Derby winner from the spring, Riff Rocket, now has the...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Vi...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Via Sistina Too Good Debuting for Waller

Yu Long Investments lucrative European purchase, the now Chris Waller-trained...

Race Results

2024 The Galaxy Results: Zapateo Upsets Sunshine In Paris

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Imperatriz Defends Title in 2024 William Reid Stakes

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Race Previews

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off

Fields & Form

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off