Racing Melbourne CupA haircut appears to have put Mahler's bid for Tuesday's Emirates Melbourne Cup back on track after the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt eased concerns over his mental well-being with a good work-out yesterday.
A piece of exercise the previous day resulted in some unease in the Irish camp when Mahler sweated up quite badly and he was described as being "anxious" by the champion trainer, who is visiting the race for the first time.
However, an overnight date with a razor appeared to do the trick for the three-year-old, whose winter Northern Hemisphere coat was removed with a trace clip. He immediately showed the benefits of the move at Sandown Park quarantine centre.
"He went very well and Aidan was much happier with him," said the Coolmore Stud spokesman, James Bester, whose report will be a relief for those who plunged in the ante-post betting on Mahler, who has been backed to cost local bookmakers almost $2 million.
"The horse had been clipped, had a haircut, and didn't sweat up as much. Today he was relaxed, settled, focused, enjoying his work and moved a little more freely," Bester added, before again pointing to the absence of the injured Scorpion as a reason for Mahler's initial unease.
"He was missing his working companion with whom he had travelled over to new surroundings and worked with each morning. Yesterday he was a little bit tuned-up, or a little anxious. Today he relaxed better and Aidan was very pleased with his work," Bester reported.
Well over 100,000 people are expecting to attend Flemington on Tuesday, but that shouldn't hinder Mahler's attempt to follow in the footsteps of the two Irish-trained Melbourne Cup winners, Vintage Crop (1993) and Media Puzzle (2002.)
"He's young, but I don't think that's a concern for Aidan. He has travelled and raced before big crowds before," said Bester. "Aidan is quite happy the horse is in both the physical and mental state to acquit himself well."
Mahler is a general 10 to 1 shot for the race. Luca Cumani's Ebor winner, Purple Moon, remains a 4 to 1 favourite.
