Bailey left no one in doubt about his displeasure over Zac Purton's ride on Fame Game, coming from last on the home bend to finish sixth in the Caulfield Cup.
He told the Fame Game team potential trouble could brew if there was a change of tactics in the Melbourne Cup.
Japanese trainer Yoshitada Manukata, still bemused over being questioned after the Caulfield Cup, indicated yesterday he may apply for a change of tactics notice to ride Fame Game more forward this time.
Although it is not a rule of racing, connections in Australia are duty bound to inform if a horse is to be ridden differently than at its previous start, a requirement that has come in for massive criticism.
The point of the issue is honourable - it's there to keep punters better informed. But here's the problem, if a jockey suddenly wants or needs to ride a horse differently, because of tempo-related reasons, to the intentions declared to stewards, are they not going to do that?
Of course they are. In this case there are six million reasons they want to and need to.
And what can stewards do about that, given it is not a rule of racing?
Nothing. Could you ever imagine a Melbourne Cup-winner being disqualified because the jockey did not follow the plan lodged with stewards.
There's more chance of a white Christmas in Darwin.
The bullets through the door will take some serious investigation, but Terry, probably all that's required for Fame Game this afternoon is Panadol.
It's been a decade since one of the world's most recognisable trainers has had a runner in the Melbourne Cup.
Sir Michael Stoute's last visit was in 2005 when Distinction finished 19th behind Makybe Diva after finishing sixth behind the great mare a year earlier. His only other runner was Daliapour who was 16th behind Media Puzzle in 2002.
Stoute, who trains for the Queen, among others, has $41 chance Snow Sky lining up in today's race for Prince Khalid Abdullah.
Snow Sky finished fifth behind Mongolian Khan in the Caulfield Cup at his most recent start. Melbourne Cup results may not have been that kind to Stoute but he says he's got the right horse to give it a shot this year, despite Snow Sky having to carry top weight of 58kg.
"The race has been getting tougher and I think he's a suitable horse," Stoute said.
"He's got top weight but I think he's entitled to that."
He said Snow Sky, to be ridden by last year's Cup winner Ryan Moore, was a 122-rated galloper in England.
"I love the race. For years I've wanted to come and be competitive in it," Stoute said.
"The prize is enormous and we've brought a much better horse this time because you have to.
"He'll give it a shot."
