Ben Melham helps chase history on new Caulfield Cup favourite

Ben Dorries - Tuesday October 17

Ben Melham is preparing to be part of a unique slice of racing history with Johannes Vermeer, the new Caulfield Cup favourite that he feels will "eat" 2400m on Saturday.

Advertisement
Johannes Vermeer was a Dutch painter in the 1600s but jockey Ben Melham reckons the equine version can win the Caulfield Cup

The Irish galloper that was a fast-finishing eyecatcher on his Australian debut in the Group I Ladbrokes Stakes last Saturday is the $5 Caulfield Cup favourite after a serious injury forced Japanese star Admire Deus out of the field.

Melham takes over the ride from Katelyn Mallyon and insists he would not swap the five-year-old for anything else in the race.

The Victorian hoop is fully aware he can potentially help carve out a new slice of racing history, with Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien just one win shy of equalling Bobby Frankel's mark of 25 Group I wins in a year.

Melham hasn't had a spin on Johannes Vermeer this week but describes him as the perfect Caulfield Cup contender.

"He looks an ideal sort of horse, exactly the right sort of horse to win a Caulfield Cup," Melham said.

"He was actually outside the leader early in the race the other day, so that shows he has got good gate speed if I need to use it.

"He relaxes very well and has got a fantastic change-up speed.

"I think the run the other day was an ideal lead-up run, he got held up a little bit and he only ran home the last 300m and he did that in good sectionals.

"That run wouldn't have hurt him and to me he looks as though he will eat 2400m."

Racenet spoke to Melham at Caulfield trackwork on Tuesday morning before Japanese galloper Admire Deus suffered a life-threatening injury and was out of the Caulfield Cup.

Prior to that incident, Melham felt Admire Deus was the one to beat in the Caulfield Cup.

There is now no Admire Deus and Melham insisted he would not trade his mount for any other in the race.

Melham has won 13 Group Is, including the 2017 Golden Slipper aboard She Will Reign, but said it would be extra special to win the Caulfield Cup for O'Brien.

"To be able to win a Caulfield Cup, especially for Aidan O'Brien who is basically the world's best trainer, would be huge for me," Melham said.

"Aidan is heading for a milestone himself, to equal the most number of Group I wins in a year.

"It would be an unbelievable thing to be a small part of that milestone for him."

Advertisment
More Reading...
Better Than Ready’s Metalart Wins Group 3 W J Healy Stakes
Improving off a third in the Listed Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm recently, 4yo Better Than Ready gelding Metalart stepped up to 1200m to record his first black type success, winning the Group 3 W J Healy Stakes.
Sires With Winners - Saturday June 28
Here is the full list of 109 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Another Aussie SW Sourced from Aga Khan Studs
When Australian investors buy tried horses out of Europe from Aga Khan Studs they know they are getting quality, but the good ones don’t come cheap with Elamaz (IRE) sourced from their draft at the Arqana Arc Sale last year for €480,000.
Aussie 2YO SW for Tivaci
New Zealand-bred colt Matahga stamped himself as an exciting spring three-year-old prospect with a hard-fought victory in the A$120,000 Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Tattersall’s Mile For The Inflictor - Under The Louvre’s Second SW
Third at Listed level before winning at Doomben, the Craig Cousins-trained The Inflictor (Under The Louvre) then tackled the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, and while not in the same league as winner War Wachine (Harry Angel), the 4yo gelding showed his class on Saturday to win the Listed BRC Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
Corumbene Stud Homebred Tashi Wins G1 Tatts Tiara
From the last crop of foals sired by Widden Stud’s much missed Golden Slipper winning sire Sebring, five year-old mare Tashi may also be his final Group I winner as she produced a career best performance at Eagle Farm on Saturday to win the $700,000 Group I Tatts Tiara (1400m).
Private Eye’s Half-Brother King’s Secret Wins Again
Although he may never reach the heights of his older half-brother Private Eye, a Group 1 winner and earner of more than $12m to date, connections of King’s Secret (Shalaa) are sure to have plenty of their own fun with the 3yo gelding winning at Rosehill on Saturday.
Super Seth 3YO Salutes for Baker
A tenacious front-running performance in Saturday’s A$160,000 Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill added a first city victory to Puntin’s burgeoning record.
Miss Joelene Achieves Millionaire Status
This time last year, Miss Joelene was highlighting herself as one to watch for the future, having placed in the Group 2 The Roses and the Group 1 Queensland Oaks, and after a few runs behind the outstanding Antino (Redwood) this time in, a class drop on Saturday saw her record victory in the $200,000 Listed BRC Tattersall’s Gold Crown (2100m) at Eagle Farm.
Almanzor Stayer wins G3 Tattersalls Cup
It's been a long time since the  2022 Victoria Derby and some may have wondered whether the winner Manzoice was ever going to win again!