KEY POINTS:
Nine years ago Brian Jenkins sat atop the racing world, joining the select list of New Zealanders to train a Melbourne Cup winner.
And his long wait for a first Cup runner since Jezabeel's 1998 victory may be over.
Now based at Bangholme, near the beach south-east of Melbourne, Jenkins is hopeful his consistent stayer Desert Master can sneak into the Cup field which is drawn on Saturday night.
If the cards fall his way and rain comes, Jenkins is talking up a potential boilover with his $151 shot.
"He's not that far away from getting a run and there aren't too many with good two-mile (3200m) form on wet tracks," Jenkins told NZPA last night.
Victoria is experiencing an unprecedented drought but for the past two days the dark clouds have looked as if they are about to burst.
Forecasts read "a few showers" for today and Saturday, "showers" for Sunday then clearing on Monday for the big race the following day.
Desert Master is currently 28th on the Melbourne Cup order of entry but with David Hayes' pair of Miss Finland and Lazer Sharp unlikely to run, and the natural attrition after Saturday's racing, Jenkins is confident of sneaking into the 24 which can run in the cup.
Or he can bulldoze his way straight into the field with victory in Saturday's Saab Quality (2500m), for which he's a $16 chance.
One place ahead of Desert Master in ranking order is Levin trainer Peter McKenzie's Sculptor, who is stabled at Jenkins' property and has a similar wish list.
"He likes a bit of rain too and he travelled over well," Jenkins said.
Jenkins, a former Cambridge farrier, admits the impact of his 1998 cup win was "stunning".
"It opens doors for you everywhere and sets you up financially - it's been marvellous.
"Everybody in racing recognises you all over the world."
Knowing he wouldn't get rich training in New Zealand at Cambridge, Jenkins made his money buying and selling yearlings after Jezabeel's win.
A chance meeting with former top New Zealand jockey Brent Thomson pointed him towards the Bangholme property early last year.
He trains exclusively for prominent Melbourne owner Bruce Cook who races Desert Master, a six-year-old gelding who has won six of his 24 starts.
Desert Master has a 3200m win at Flemington to his credit, albeit relegated to second to Derringer on protest in last year's Andrew Ramsden Stakes, and a fifth to Art Success in last year's Brisbane Cup (3200m) when carted 10-wide on the home turn.
His last start was an encouraging third to Melbourne Cup contender The Fuzz in the Geelong Cup and he galloped strongly in training this week.
"He's only lightly raced and I think his best year might still be in front of him," Jenkins said.
"It's always exciting to be racing at this level and the anticipation's really there going into the weekend."
The only problem is a finding a cup rider, after New Zealand-based Mark Du Plessis was booked, but then ruled out after suffering concussion in an Avondale fall yesterday.
Dwayne Dunn rides in the Saab but Jenkins will wait until Saturday night to confirm a rider.
If Lazer Sharp and Miss Finland don't run, it allows Geelong Cup winner The Fuzz, 20 per cent owned by his Waikato breeders Phil and Jackie Rogers, to reach No 24 on the order of entry and get a start.
- NZPA
