Link: Weld surprised at Yeats' Cup weight - Horse Racing - Sport - theage.com.au.
DERMOT Weld, who hopes to be back in Melbourne this spring with former French stayer Bellamy Cay, was surprised to hear that Racing Victoria Ltd chief handicapper Greg Carpenter did not think Irish stayer Yeats was any better than last year.
At the release of the weights for the spring features on Monday, Carpenter said he had left Yeats on 59 kilograms in the Melbourne Cup, the same weight he carried last year, because he did not think he was in any better form, although the now seven-year-old had won his only three starts since then.
"He won two ordinary races in Ireland and I don't believe his win in the Ascot Gold Cup (at his most recent start) was as good as the previous year," Carpenter said.
Weld, who also trains at the Curragh, where Yeats is prepared by Aidan O'Brien, said he did not like talking about other people's horses, but he considered, if anything, Yeats was at least as good as last year.
"I thought his Gold Cup win (this year) was better than last year and he looks terrific and I'm sure he's being prepared for the Melbourne Cup," Weld said.
Not so surprising was Weld's assertion that Bellamy Cay, bought earlier this year after he ran in the Sheema Classic in Dubai, had "enough weight" with 55 kilograms in the Melbourne Cup.
"I had him gelded after I bought him and he will have his first start for me in the Irish St Leger on Sunday week and after that we'll decide about Melbourne," Weld said.
"He's a fine, big horse and I had a dual purpose in mind when I bought him. If he doesn't measure up for the Melbourne Cup, then he'll go hurdling next season."
Until Delta Blues last year, Weld was the only international trainer successful in the Melbourne Cup, with Vintage Crop in 1993 and Media Puzzle in 2002. His most recent Melbourne Cup starter was grand stayer Vinnie Roe, who finished eighth behind Makybe Diva in 2005, second to the champion mare in 2004 and was fourth behind Media Puzzle in 2002.
Weld, who is also a trained vet, believed vaccination may not stop equine influenza but thought it helpful in treating affected horses.
"If vaccinated horses come down with the virus, it seems to be a much milder form and not so debilitating and when horses are exposed (to it), they have a degree of resistance," he said.
Victorian authorities have yet to decide if vaccination should become mandatory because it is believed it may not be effective against the particular flu virus now sweeping NSW.
Weld said all his horses were vaccinated against equine influenza and, unless it spread to Victoria, he would not be concerned about bringing Bellamy Cay for the Melbourne Cup.
I'll be backing Sea the Stars, with Debussy as a nice each way chance...
Posted by: derby free bet | 06/01/2009 at 02:38 AM