Pressure off Stokes in Cup bid

[Wandering Eyes]

Following second declarations for the Melbourne Cup, there are 58 horses remaining in contention for the Group One race at Flemington.

After Tuesday’s second acceptances, there are four horses – Rodrigo Diaz, Deauville Legend, Loft and Without A Fight – prepared by international trainers while Hoo Ya Mal and Camorra will join local stables once they finish their post arrival quarantine.

Rodrigo Diaz arrived in Melbourne last week while the remaining five entered quarantine in the UK on Monday and are due in Australia in two weeks’ time.

With the battle on for spots into the Melbourne Cup on November 1, one trainer that does not have to worry is Phillip Stokes with Daqiansweet Junior (NZ) (Sweet Orange).

The stayer is 21st in the Order of Entry and Stokes said The Bart Cummings, which offers the winner a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup, would be the stayers last start before the Cup.

“We don’t have to worry about qualifying,” Stokes said.

“He’s already in, so he’ll run on Saturday and that will be it, his last run. We’ll be replicating what we did when he won the Adelaide Cup.

“Is he good enough, I’m not sure, but we know he runs the trip.”

Daqiansweet Junior won the Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville in March before running third on a heavy track in the Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick.

The gelding has had two starts back at Caulfield this campaign, finishing 10th in the Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) and then seventh in the Naturalism Stakes (2000m).

“It probably doesn’t look great on paper, but I’ve been happy with the way he’s been rounding off his runs and he’s on target for the Melbourne Cup,” Stokes said.

“I think he’s poking along well. We’re getting ready for a 3200-metre race and getting on the bigger track will help him.

“At Caulfield he’s been giving them too big a start, but he’s been running quite good sectionals.

“We’ll try and ride a bit more positively, more in a midfield position than out the back and he can handle any conditions, so anything that comes his way, he’ll be right.”

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