While King Charles III is busy hosting US President Donald Trump in the UK, he may spare a moment to check in on his potential Cup runner Gilded Water, who races at Caulfield on Saturday.
The Ciaron Maher-trained import steps out in the final race of the day, the benchmark 84 Handicap (2000m), as he looks to continue building his campaign towards a possible tilt at the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4.
Maher admits the Cup is still a distant goal and Gilded Water must start winning to be considered for a start on the first Tuesday in November.
Since arriving in Australia last year, Gilded Water scored successive wins at Kembla Grange and Randwick before finishing runner-up at Rosehill. He was then spelled and returned this spring with two Cranbourne jump-outs before a first-up third over 1800m at Caulfield on August 30.
“He was a very good run first-up off a very light prep and I’m looking forward to seeing him on Saturday,” Maher said.
“He’s going to have to sneak into the Cup through the back door, but he’s come through his first run really well, he’s grown up and improving all the time.
“The Caulfield Cup will probably come too quick for him but hopefully we can sneak him into the Melbourne Cup.”
A victory on Saturday would provide a crucial ratings boost, potentially earning him a berth in key qualifiers such as the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2500m) on October 4, the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 22 or the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) on October 24.
A start in the Geelong Cup would hold special significance given King Charles attended Geelong Grammar in the 1960s.
“He needs a couple of wins, but there’s a host of those races,” Maher said.
“He’s a pretty natural stayer and it will be a matter of getting him in the best way we can.
“Hopefully we’re talking about those races. He’s a progressive stayer but things have to go right to get there.”
Punters eager to back Gilded Water in his Caulfield assignment can find the latest odds via Australia’s leading betting sites.
