Racing: Low key approach for Cedarberg

The race is on for a place in the Melbourne Cup. Photo / Getty Images

Expectations are something that trainer Pat Carey pretty much leaves for other people.

The Mornington trainer has been nonchalant in his approach to the spring racing carnival with four-year-old Cedarberg who gets his chance for a Melbourne Cup start in today's Group Three Lexus Stakes (2500m) at Flemington.

Like 10 other horses in the field he needs to win it to run in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday but Carey isn't feeling any pressure.

"We started him off on a low base this preparation with one aim and that was to run him in a mile and half (2400m) handicap somewhere along the line and test his mettle," Carey said.

Carey is also mindful that the Derby form has held up well with the first three placegetters in the Classic being Shoot Out, fourth in the Cox Plate, and Descarado and Monaco Consul who were first and third respectively in the Caulfield Cup.

Cedarberg hasn't had a lot of racing, just nine starts, but he is tough. He underlined that when he won the Ansett Classic (2400m) at Sandown two starts back after racing wide on the pace in the early stages, and again when he dashed past subsequent Moonee Valley Cup winner Precedence to take second place to Linton in the Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield.

Carey said once Cedarberg passed the first ballot clause for the Cup with his Ansett Classic win it was just a matter of keeping the horse ticking over. Cedarberg is A$14 to win today but if he does the A$151 being offered by TAB Sportsbet for the Cup certainly won't be available, especially if history is any guide.

Only last year Shocking won the Lexus-Cup double, emulating Brew (2000) and Think Big (1974).

- AAP