The Ciaron Maher Racing team is hoping to see a more relaxed version of Gilded Water in Wednesday’s Geelong Cup, when he’ll be chasing a golden ticket into the Melbourne Cup.
Bred by Queen Elizabeth II and owned by King Charles III, Gilded Water raced too fiercely out in front in his most recent start in The Bart Cummings and had to settle for third that afternoon.
Already, the form out of that race looks strong, with the winner Valiant King going on to run third in the Caulfield Cup last Saturday.
“He ran so well to hang on for third,” said Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull. “It’s very hard to maintain those sectionals and the form around him’s been solid. Hopefully, it works out Wednesday and then we can be represented with him in the Melbourne Cup.”
WATCH: Gilded Water’s Bart Cummings run
Turnbull revealed that there will be a gear change for Gilded Water in the Geelong Cup.
“He had a strong gallop Saturday behind Interpretation,” Turnbull explained. “We had the norton bit on, that’ll be the addition come Wednesday.
“Declan Bates will ride, hopefully we can go two spots better than what we did in The Bart Cummings to qualify. Physically, he’s very well, he’s fit as a fiddle, he just needs to be controlled.”
Sportsbet has Gilded Water as the $2.30 favourite for the Geelong Cup on Wednesday and at $21 in its Melbourne Cup market.
