Damien Oliver wants to get back on Kaapstad Way for the Melbourne Cup.
The hugely talented Melbourne jockey was to have ridden Kaapstad Way in last Saturday's $A2 million Caulfield Cup but sought, and was granted, a release to ride Fairway.
Oliver wants back on after Kaapstad Way's slashing unlucky second to Diatribe.
Co-trainer Chris Wood is in an awkward position and has hand-passed the decision to Kaapstad Way's owner.
"I'd rather stay out of it," said Wood from Melbourne yesterday.
"Whatever decision is made it won't be because of any dissatisfaction with Gary Grylls."
Wood said Grylls was riding to instructions on Saturday to have Kaapstad Way no more than five or six lengths from the leaders on the home bend.
It meant Grylls did not have the option of waiting for an inside run when they were at the tail of the field at the 500m.
And although Kaapstad Way ran an exceptional last 600m, bettered on the day only by sprint queen Miss Kournakova, Diatribe and Jim Cassidy drove through in the home straight to win.
Kaapstad Way has progressed well since the weekend and will not race again before the Melbourne Cup.
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Colin Alderson says for Sky Heights to beat Sunline in Saturday's Cox Plate he had to be in better shape than when third last year - and he's confident the horse is.
"He's a speed staying horse, not a weight-for-age horse so to be competitive in a Cox Plate he has to be on the fresh side to leave some dash in him.
"He's got that dash in him right now."
Sky Heights jars up on very firm tracks. The cushion on Moonee Valley's Strathayr surface suits him perfectly and the rain and showers in Melbourne this week will suit him as much as Sunline.
Alderson and rider Glen Boss are delighted with the No8 barrier draw.
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Blood tests have revealed nothing amiss with New Zealand's second Cox Plate runner The Message and John Ralph is confident of a big effort.
Ralph ordered blood tests when The Message faded to finish mid-field after trailing then challenging in the Coongy Handicap on Saturday.
"His blood's perfect and after analysing a few things I believe that run was a bit better than I first thought," said Ralph from Melbourne yesterday.
"The pace was really on and his individual time was a second and a half faster than what he won the Kelt Stakes in."
The Cox Plate ride has gone to local Stephen Baster after regular jockey Linda Ballantyne decided to ride instead at Counties.
"Several people have said that a lot of horses felt the hard track at Caulfield on Saturday, suggesting that may have been a reason The Message failed, but he was okay on that surface."
Ralph does not see too much trouble in The Message's No 11 barrier.
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Oliver Twist is cleared to run in Saturday's Cox Plate despite being the centre of a drugs inquiry.
The Brian Mayfield-Smith star was withdrawn from the Underwood Stakes when pre-race blood and urine samples showed traces of anti-inflammatory drugs.
The VRC will hold an inquiry into the incident on Monday.
Racing: Oliver wants back on Kaapstad Way in Cup
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