No need for Marmelo to look at Caulfield track before Cup

Brad Waters - Monday October 16

Marmelo's connections have no plans to give the international galloper at look at the Caulfield track before Saturday's Group I Caulfield Cup (2400m).

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Marmelo winning the Prix Kergorlay. Photo: France Galop

Marmelo arrived in Melbourne with the first shipment of overseas horses last month and has done well enough in Australia to convince champion Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman to ride him in the Caulfield Cup.

The Hughie Morrison-trained stayer has competed well in England and France in his 10-start career and travelling head lad Tom Pirie said the five-year-old did not need to move from his Werribee base before his Australian debut.

"We'll leave it to raceday. He's no stranger to getting straight out of the stable and going racing," Pirie said.

"We take racing at it comes.

"We'll just keep ticking over and watch his food and watch his water and make sure he's all right and keep an eye on him."

Pirie said Bowman rode Marmelo in a gallop at Werribee last Friday and could head back to the quarantine centre to pilot the son of Duke Of Marmalade in a final hit-out on Tuesday morning.

Pirie was aboard Marmelo during his quiet canter around the Polytrack on Monday and the Scotsman said the son of Duke Of Marmalade had the fitness required to be competitive in Saturday's $3 million assignment.

"We don't stress the horse. We just try to keep it basic for him," Pirie said.

"Hugh Bowman came here last Friday and gave him a stretch on the grass. He let him run around the turn and made sure he finished up the straight and that was it.

"He ran in September and he didn't lose too much fitness and we've tried to take it all on board with the 36-hour flight, his weight loss and everything like that.

"We think he's fit enough."

Marmelo is dropping in distance after his win over 3000m in the Group II Prix Kergorlay at Deauville in August but said the entire would improve when he gets back up to 3200m in the Melbourne Cup.

"I haven't paid too much attention to the field but it's a Group I and I know we're good enough to be here," Pirie said.

"It's a mile and a half and he's dropping back in trip and the others are racing at their trip.

"Whatever he does over the mile-and-a-half, he'll improve on at two miles. "

Sportsbet has Marmelo as a $21 chance in its latest Caulfield Cup market.

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