Michael Rodd was gutted to lose the ride on a leading Cox Plate hope but is convinced he is on the right horse to land another feature in the Caulfield Guineas.
Rodd partners favourite Rich Enuff in Saturday’s $1 million race for three-year-olds and says barrier 10 is perfect for the brilliant colt.
The jockey was dumped as the rider of Cox Plate-bound Happy Trails who had a luckless run in Saturday’s Turnbull Stakes.
“It’s a bit of kick in the guts, but that’s the way it goes,” Rodd said.
But in Rich Enuff the star hoop has every reason to be excited.
Aiming to give Ken Keys his first Group One after 30 years of training, Rich Enuff has maintained his spot as $2.60 favourite.
Rich Enuff has been impressive with on-speed wins in the Mitchell McKenzie Stakes, Danehill Stakes and Caulfield Guineas Prelude, the latter from the widest gate and sitting outside the lead before exploding away.
Rodd said the barrier would allow him to take his time coming across and noted there were a couple of speed horses drawn outside him.
“I can let the field sort themselves out and then I can drop in,” he said.
The colt’s work on Tuesday also did nothing to dampen Rodd’s enthusiasm.
“He’s definitely tightened up,” he said.
“He’s a brilliant trackworker and his work again was first-class.
“He’s ready to go.”
Rodd said the colt had risen to every challenge so far and he has confidence he can do so again in his first try at 1600m.
“It’s going into the unknown with him because he is such a brilliant horse with such a great turn of foot,” Rodd said.
“You don’t know how far to push them, but he’s ticking all the boxes so far.”
Looks Like The Cat has finished second to Rich Enuff in his two spring starts and will jump alongside him in barrier nine.
He is the $6 second favourite ahead of Group One winner Almalad ($7) who drifted after drawing gate 13.
“I’m confident this will be the best run of his preparation,” Looks Like The Cat’s trainer Tony Gollan said.
Paul Snowden feels barrier eight is OK for Stan Fox Stakes winner Shooting To Win.
“A couple of speed horses have drawn out so they will want to flow across and try to get a spot as soon as they can,” he said.
“That should generate good speed and hopefully we can slot in the first half a dozen.”
