KEY POINTS:
Maldivian is set to start the short-priced favourite in next the Caulfield Cup next saturday after he defeated Cox Plate favourite Miss Finland to claim his first Group One win in the Yalumba Stakes at Caulfield yesterday.
The Mark Kavanagh-trained Zabeel 5-year-old had been the $4.20 favourite for the 2400m feature and had shortened a full point before TAB Sportsbet suspended betting on the race.
Maldivian could even back up in the Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley the following week.
"Anything can happen," Kavanagh said. "He surprised me. He was too good for them today."
Ridden by Michael Rodd, Maldivian sprinted past race leader Rubiscent when the pressure went on in the 2000m feature and opened up a winning break before scoring by 1 1/4 lengths from Miss Finland with Anamato 2 1/2 lengths away third.
"We've still got seven days and there is improvement in him. I told Michael to get going early and make it a staying test. He's not just a plugger this horse. He can run good sectionals."
Maldivian is weighted to carry only 51.5kg in the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 6, which looks a real luxury after shouldering 59kg under the weight-for-age conditions.
Miss Finland's trainer David Hayes was impressed.
"He should be even-money in the Caulfield Cup. He's weighted to win and he loves Caulfield. He's flying," Hayes said.
He was quite happy with Miss Finland, despite her defeat.
"She was a bit stout. She was taking ground off the winner late and a harder run around Moonee Valley will suit her," he said.
"He was too sharp for her today, but it was a good Melbourne Cup trial and I haven't given up on the Cox Plate.
"If the Cox Plate was a sit-sprint around Caulfield I'd be worried. These sit-sprint weight-for-age races are not suiting her. She's running well but not winning."
Hayes was happy with Anamato's placing and said she would back up in the Caulfield Cup.
Rodd said Maldivian was a "lazy bugger on the track".
"He doesn't have much of a sprint in him, he just keeps picking up into it and the more he works into it, the better he's going."
In the next race, stablemate Divine Madonna made it a Group One double for Kavanagh and Rodd in the Toorak Hcp (1600m).
* Weekend Hussler was breathtaking winning the $1 million Group One Caulfield Guineas.
When Brad Rawiller, who scored his first Group One win in Melbourne on Weekend Hussler, asked him for his effort, Weekend Hussler exploded away and had the race won in strides.
- AAP
