Werther worthy of Cup tilt

[Wandering Eyes]

Trainer Danny O’Brien says it’s now or never in terms of winning a Caulfield Cup next Saturday for his seven-year-old gelding Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock).

“He’s going as well as he’s ever gone. That was a good run in the Turnbull, and he’s come out of it in good shape,” O’Brien said.

“He will never get a better opportunity to win a Caulfield Cup. This is his opportunity.”

Young Werther finished a last-start fifth in the Turnbull Stakes behind Via Sistina.

It will be Young Werther’s second attempt at a Caulfield Cup after he finished eighth behind Incentivise in 2021.

“He wasn’t quite mature enough then, he’s ready for it this time.”

Although Young Werther hasn’t won over 2400 metres, O’Brien said he had put in several exemplary performances at the distance.

These include a second in the ATC Derby and a third in Victoria Derby as a three-year-old.

O’Brien pointed out that at his last run over the trip he finished second behind his stablemate Vow And Declare in the Grand Prix at Eagle Farm in track record time.

O’Brien said Vow And Declare would not run in the Caulfield Cup after his last in the Might And Power Stakes.

“He’s pulled up well,” he said. “That was his first poor run for a long time. He’s been very consistent for 18 months; we’ll monitor him during the next week or so and check whether he runs again in spring.”

O’Brien has built up a solid record in the Caulfield Cup having quinellaed the event in 2007 when Master O’Reilly defeated Duoro Valley.

He has subsequently trained Vow And Declare to finish second in 2019 and Vigor, who finished third in 2010.

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