The Melbourne Spring Carnival is still months away, but jockey Jordan Childs is working hard to ensure he will be in the prime position for a Melbourne Cup ride.
On of those potential rides is the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott -trained White Marlin who heads to the William Newton VC Handicap (2000m) at Flemington on Tuesday as a lead up to the Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington on May 13.
Victory in the Andrew Ramsden provides the winner a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington in November.
Waterhouse and Bott already have Goldman locked away for a 2023 Melbourne Cup start after winning the Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) at Flemington last month.
Unbeaten in two starts in Ireland, White Marlin has extended that winning streak to six after four wins for Waterhouse and Bott, the latest, first-up, in the Group 3 Easter Cup (2100m) at Sandown on April 8.
Waterhouse and Bott had the option of running White Marlin in the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) on Saturday, which also carried the bonus of a Caulfield Cup exemption but chose the Flemington option.
“It looks a suitable race and then he goes to the Andrew Ramsden after that,” Childs said.
“The 2000 metres looks a nice steppingstone.”
White Marlin’s first-up victory in the Easter Cup at Sandown came on a heavy track and Childs was surprised at how well the stayer came out of that win.
Runner-up in the Easter Cup was Right You Are, 2-½ lengths astern, who went on to take out the Mornington Cup.
“On his work on Wednesday, it didn’t take anything out of him,” Childs said.
“It was pretty testing conditions, and he didn’t get it handed to him that day.
“They made his work for it, but the longer the race went, the stronger he got.
“He’s really clean winded. He rarely has a good blow. He recovers quickly, he sustains a long gallop, and it just feels like you can’t get to the bottom of him.
“He’s still got to stand up and the Andrew Ramsden is going to be his Grand Final, and we still have to get there, but he’s heading in the right direction.”
If having to choose now between the two Waterhouse and Bott gallopers, Childs has a leaning towards White Marlin.
“He’s a bit stronger and more of a season campaigner, but Goldman is still a very nice horse and is going to make a nice stayer,” Childs said.