Melbourne Cup: Spin Around's trainer hopes for winning turn

Auckland Cup winner Spin Around. Photo / Dean Purcell

South Auckland galloper Spin Around is angry and that's a good sign a day out from the Melbourne Cup, says trainer Steve Cooper.

"The fitter he gets the angrier he gets and he's ready to take on Mike Tyson now," Cooper said yesterday of the 9-year-old gelding that he has nursed through two suspensory ligament injuries to win $1 million in stakes.

"If you stay around the middle of him you are perfectly safe. He is sharp at both ends, very quick with his teeth and his feet. I think the majority of people around him are carrying scars.

"Generally he is a nice horse - just don't turn your back on him," Cooper jokes.

The Australian press has dismissed Spin Around's chances in today's Cup. Comments range from a simple "No" to "Not up to this class".

Cooper begs to differ.

"He is well qualified and has got less weight (52kg) than he has ever carried in his life. I don't see a problem."

Not that Cooper is tempted to have a lunge at the $200 win price bookies are offering in Australia.

"I've never gambled in my life, I don't even look at the prices. That is the least thing on my mind. Someone said, 'do you mind him being that price?' and I said 'I really don't care'.

"Spin Around doesn't know what price he is - if he was odds-on favourite does it mean he goes faster?"

The horse doesn't know his age either and his racing career has been well spaced.

Spin Around won four races during a couple of years in Hong Kong, the last of which was in Paul O'Sullivan's stable, but was sent to Cooper because of suspensory injuries.

Hydrotherapy sessions and tender loving care have seen him return to the track and he has raced 33 times for Cooper in the past 2 years. His six victories include the Counties Cup (2100m) and Avondale Cup (2200m) in 2007 and this year's Auckland Cup (3200m) at a win price of $57.

That win set him on the Melbourne Cup trail, although his preparation hasn't been that of the typical New Zealand stayer.

He hasn't raced in New Zealand since May and on his Australian campaign was seventh to fellow Kiwi stayer Mandela in the Seymour Cup (1600m) on October 18 and then 10th in the Geelong Cup on October 21.

"We took the gamble that we did not need to go for the big ones leading up to the Cup," said Cooper.

"We toyed with the idea of the Toorak Handicap and Caulfield Cup, but as the field started to thin out and readjust we thought there is no point in trying to kill the old soul when there are bigger fish to fry down the road.

"So we took the softer options, kept out of the press' way and sneaked our way through. He got trapped on the rail in the Seymour Cup and needed a big blowout in the Geelong Cup and got it. He is absolutely fighting fit and has an Auckland Cup to his credit.

"It will be an interesting day out."

Accomplished Cambridge-based international jockey Mark Du Plessis rides Spin Around.

- NZPA