BOOKMAKERS slashed the price of the Ciaron Maher trained mare Jameka for the $6 million Melbourne Cup following her convincing victory in the Caulfield Cup on Saturday.
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Jameka firmed in betting from $10 to $5 for Australia’s greatest horse race after her win over the imported gallopers Scottish and Exospheric in the $3.15 million Caulfield Cup.
As a result of the victory, she has joined Hartnell at the top of the betting charts for the Melbourne Cup.
The four-year-old mare was brilliantly ridden by Nick Hall, who had to waste heavily over the past ten days to ride Jameka at 52.5kgs, which is well below his normal riding weight.
Maher, who has stables at Caulfield and Pakenham and uses training facilities in Warrnambool was glowing in Hall’s ride and his ability to lose nearly five kilograms of weight necessary to ride Jameka.
“Nick’s (Hall) a true professional,” he said.
“Nick kept on telling me he could get down to the 52.5 kilograms. It was a brilliant ride. “He rides a lot of track work for the stable and has put a lot of time into Jameka since her Naturalism win last month.
“We've been very confident Jameka would run well after the ran second in the Turnbull. She's just kept on improving at each start in this preparation.
Hall was glowing in his assessment of Jameka’s run and her hopes for the Melbourne Cup.
“We made the decision to go forward from her barrier,” he said. “I was travelling really well at the 500 metre mark.I was very confident coming to the home turn I could win the race.
“We’ll got to the Melbourne Cup now and win that as she will relish the extra distance.”
Jameka will now try to become the first horse to win the Oaks- Caulfield Cup- Melbourne Cup treble.
Racing Victoria Executive General Manager – Racing Greg Carpenter will announce a penalty for Jameka’s bid to win the Melbourne Cup on Monday following her Caulfield Cup victory.
Jameka won a VRC Sires Produce Stakes as two-year-old, the VRC Oaks aged three and on Saturday she become the first Oaks winner to win a Caulfield Cup.
Jameka, the favourite, looked in control before the turn. Nick Hall had to count to 10, but by the time he would have got to five, only leader Scottish was in front him.
"On the turn I thought I had it won but I just didn't know what was behind me," Hall said. He had settled her perfectly in the running line and could choose when to peel out and challenge.
When he did, she let down and finished the race in a couple of strides. She raced clear to win by three lengths.
