Admire Rakti swooped late to claim the Crown Golden Ale Caulfield Cup
Saturday 18 October 2014 11:13, UK
British raider Seismos finished down the field as Japanese runner Admire Rakti swooped late to claim the Crown Golden Ale Caulfield Cup
Craig Newitt could be noted pushing along early on Marco Botti's Seismos, putting in plenty of work to grab a position on the rails as ex-Sir Michael Stoute inmate Sea Moon set out to make all.
The pacesetter was toiling as the field turned for home and the distress signals were evident for Seismos as Rising Romance made her bid for glory.
However, Zac Purton was just getting into top gear on the Japanese-trained Admire Rakti, challenging down the middle of the track.
With half a furlong to run, Admire Rakti was still not quite in front but he galloped on strongly to land the 12-furlong event from Rising Romance, with Lucia Valentina back in third.
Admire Rakti finished fourth in the Japan Cup last time but finished well down the field in the Tenno Sho at Kyoto racecourse on his most recent outing back in May.
Speaking through an interpreter, Umeda said: "He has a handicap of 58 (kilograms) and he has not done much in the big races in Japan so I wasn't sure, but I think he likes it in Australia.
"Everything has gone well so hopefully this luck will keeping going until the Melbourne Cup,'' he told At The Races.
A jubilant Purton was hit with a fine for his use of the whip, but his enthusiam for the winner was undiminished.
"The European and Japanese are different to the Australian horses, they appreciate a little galloping room. I had the opportunity to be one off the fence early and I did not want that," he told The Age.
"I could see horses were going to be caught three-wide and that's the way they want to race.
"It was just a matter of keeping comfortable and happy. He had 58 kilos on his back and I wanted to give him his chance.
"I thought at 300 metres I was going to win but Rising Romance kicked on a bit more strongly than I thought. She kicked on but at the 150 metres.
"Luckily I was able to ease up on him the last bit and didn't have to punish him. I'd punished him enough before that, so once he got the job done I was able to say 'Okay boy, well done'. And in the last 50 I was able to suck it all in and cruise to the line."
Admire Rakti now heads the betting with Sky Bet for the Melbourne Cup as 5/1 favourite.
