Melbourne Cup Update - 22 Days To Go!

Things are starting to get really serious now as the 90 horses left in the Cup start to sort themselves out with a view to a Cup start. Remember that with 24 runners in the final field, 66 will miss out! THE CAULFIELD CUP will be run this Saturday and the picture will be much clearer afterwards. Trainer John Hawkes holds a strong hand with HEADTURNER, RAILINGS and DIZELLE all strong chances. MC fancy ZIPPING needs to get a run at Caulfield and that decision will be made by the VRC handicapper tomorrow. Perhaps the best lead for the Caulfield Cup came yesterday from Champion hoop Damian Oliver. Here's the report from Mike Hedge.

Damien Oliver sorted out one of the mysteries that surrounds the record contingent of international horses in Melbourne this spring when he piloted his intended Caulfield Cup mount Pop Rock for the first time on Sunday. The former champion jockey worked the Japanese galloper over 1200m at Sandown with his stablemate, Caulfield Cup top weight Delta Blues, and came away confident he was on the better prospect.

On a day when the international challenge got moving, Oliver and Pop Rock gave Delta Blues a couple of lengths start and the jockey said he had the other horse's measure on the line. "I thought my horse had the other one covered on the line, I'm pretty happy with him," Oliver said. Oliver is looking for a record-equalling fifth Caulfield Cup and he believes Pop Rock is the horse that can get him level with riding legend Scobie Breasley.

As well as being impressed with Pop Rock as an individual, Oliver believes his form entitles him to be an outstanding chance in the Caulfield Cup. "He's a horse that's really on the rise," Oliver said. "I expected him to be a high-class horse and he gave me that sort of a feel today."

Pop Rock has won his past four starts in Japan, something Oliver said was testimony to his quality. Oliver, who has ridden extensively in Japan, said a horse had to be special to rise through the grades in the way Pop Rock has. "It's very difficult for a horse in Japan to keep stepping up in grade," he said. "Because the races are all set weights, they go up in class and stay up in the weights."

As good as his form may be and as fit as he is, Pop Rock has one major problem: he isn't in the field for next Saturday's race. After Saturday's Caulfield meeting, Pop Rock is one of three horses who are equal 18th in the order of entry into the 18-horse field. But it is likely that Grand Zulu, who is above him on the list, will not be there which could mean the Melbourne Racing Club committee will have to use its discretion to determine which horse takes the final place in the field.

One of the others in equal 18th place is English stayer Land 'N Stars who today had his race jockey Nick Ryan in the saddle for the first time. Land 'N Stars worked with Geordieland over 1600m and left Ryan with a good impression. "He has the feel of a very strong stayer," Ryan said."His work was good and he pulled up very well after it, I couldn't be happier."

Geordieland also worked well, carrying several kilos more than his compatriot and shading him at the end of the gallop. It was also his most testing piece of work since he arrived in Melbourne almost two weeks ago. Geordieland is being reserved for the Melbourne Cup, as is Wunderwood who continued his preparation today with slow pacework.

The Godolphin entrant Imperial Stride also had a light workout on Sunday morning and is expected to do something more serious when race jockey Kerrin McEvoy partners him in a gallop on Tuesday.

The Market

8/1 YEATS, (Europe's Champion stayer-could be shorter if he arrives safely tomorrow)

9/1 TAWQEET

10/1 HEADTURNER, SPHENOPHYTA

11/1 RAILINGS, OUR SMOKING JOE (could be favourite if it's wet on the day), ZIPPING

14/1 ON A JEUNE (runner up last year), ACTIVATION

16/1 GEORDIELAND. IMPERIAL STRIDE

20/1 SERENADE ROSE

25/1 POP ROCK (Japan), PENTANE (NZ'er)

30/1 DIZELLE (STILL MY SELECTION), WUNDERWOOD

40/1 ACCUMULATE, DELTA BLUES, JAGGER, GLISTENING, ICE CHARIOT

50/1 DRACS BACK, GRAND ZULU, THE VRC DERBY WINNER (if they decide to run)

UPWARDS OTHERS