Triple Group One winner Broadsiding remains an odds-on favourite for the Caulfield Guineas after drawing barrier nine, but rival trainer Gai Waterhouse isn’t giving up on the emerging Mayfair upstaging the star colt.
Waterhouse and training partner Adrian Bott will saddle up the Golden Rose placegetter and the improving Wanaruah in Saturday’s $3 million feature.
The pair had mixed fortunes at the draw, Mayfair coming up with gate 10 of 11 while Wanaruah will jump from barrier three.
Both had their final lead-up gallops on Tuesday, Mayfair working at Flemington and Wanaruah at Caulfield.
Waterhouse said both horses were in good order and she was particularly buoyant on the chances of Mayfair, who finished less than a half-length from Broadsiding when third behind him in the Golden Rose (1400m).
“We just worked him at Flemington, we thought that was enough for him,” Waterhouse said.
“He has travelled a lot of miles to come down here. He seems a happy chappy.
“He is a very good colt Mayfair and very under-rated. He could easily take out the Guineas. He is a very classy individual.”
While Mayfair will be making his Victorian debut, two-time Sydney winner Wanaruah finished a fighting third behind Angel Capital at his first Melbourne outing in the Guineas Prelude (1400m) last month.
Saturday will be his first attempt beyond that journey, but Waterhouse believes he will relish the extra distance.
“I think he will do it with his eyes shut. I think that’s exactly what he is looking for,” she said.
“I thought it (Prelude effort) was outstanding. The horse had stepped up in class and he didn’t shirk his duty at all, he was very good.”
Broadsiding has a stranglehold on Guineas markets as a $1.50 betting site favourite with Angel Capital ($8.50), who has drawn barrier seven, the only other runner at single-figure odds.
Mayfair is an $11 chance while Wanaruah is $17.