Staff Writer |
Jockey Josh Parr declared triple Gr.1 winner Duais is "ready to go" in Saturday's Caulfield Cup after a strong track gallop on Tuesday morning.
Parr travelled from Sydney to ride the Ed Cummings-trained mare in her final hitout before the $5m contest on the course proper at Caulfield on Tuesday morning.
"She's won here at Caulfield, which is a big plus and she got around really well again," Parr said.
"Coming down the straight, of her own accord, she really picked up and wanted to put on the speed. It was as steady as I could hold her. She looks good and she feels like it too. She's ready to go,” Parr added.
Duais was the opening favourite for the Caulfield Cup when nominations were taken for spring's big races in August but lost her spot at the top of betting when midfield in the Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on October 1.
The 5YO finished eighth to the latest Caulfield Cup favourite Smokin' Romans in the Turnbull Stakes.
However, Cummings said the stable decided to change tactics in the Turnbull Stakes, meaning Duais' effort was better than it first appeared.
"We were there to win the race and we rode her accordingly but it's there for everyone to see that all her best performances have come from being back in the field and ridden accordingly," Cummings said.
"All she has asked for this preparation is a race with a bit of pressure," said Cummings
"Once she gets to a trip, she's going to have the class to sprint when a lot of them are starting to fade. That's just the way she's built,” Cummings commented further.
The Melbourne Racing Club will conduct the Caulfield Cup barrier draw after Wednesday's Thousand Guineas meeting.