KEY POINTS:
Amid the fallout from the Caulfield Cup carnage at Caulfield on Saturday, Princess Coup's New Zealand owners had a quiet drink and cast an eye to the first Tuesday in November.
The Mark Walker-trained mare stamped her Melbourne Cup credentials with a third to Master O'Reilly in the 2400m feature, marred by the pre-race scratchings of hot favourite Maldivian and New Zealand mare Eskimo Queen.
Said Princess Coup's part-owner Ray Coupland: "She's pretty special and we always thought she would be competitive over here.
"That was a quite a good trial for a Melbourne Cup, we thought."
Bookmaker Michael Eskander shortened Princess Coup to $8 for the Melbourne Cup, behind Master O'Reilly ($5), British raider Purple Moon ($6) and Miss Finland ($7).
TAB Sportsbet in Australia was more cautious, posting her at $13 on the fifth line of betting alongside the Graeme Rogerson-trained Zipping.
Coupland and co-owner John Bromley, who pocketed A$200,000 for third, were vindicated in their decision to engage top Australian jockey Glen Boss who gave Princess Coup a sweet trip on the rails from barrier 17.
Boss was back on the plane to ride in Hong Kong last night and was honest in his assessment.
"She ran her heart out and I think there is improvement in her but maybe not enough to win a Melbourne Cup," he told the Sunday Age newspaper.
"The horses who ran in the first three had the best runs in the race.
"My horse was taking ground off the second horse [Douro Valley] on the line but not the winner. He did us with his turn of foot."
Boss copped a 13-meeting suspension for his ride, stewards ruling he caused interference to Black Tom and Tawqeet when he shifted in soon after the start.
He is eligible to resume riding on November 3, when Princess Coup contests the Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington, three days before the Melbourne Cup.
"We booked Glen for all three rides last week and he's very keen," Coupland said.
Princess Coup looked a huge chance before the turn on Saturday but got held up briefly behind the tiring Anamato as the Danny O'Brien stablemates took charge, Master O'Reilly scoring by two lengths from Douro Valley who held second by 1 1/4 lengths.
Coupland said Princess Coup had question marks over 3200m on pedigree, being by Encosta De Lago out of the Sovereign Red mare Stoneyfell Road.
"She'd had enough with 200m to go and still ground it out. She was the most puffed I'd ever seen her after a race," he said.
"On breeding you wouldn't think Melbourne Cup but she won the New Zealand Oaks [2400m] by four lengths easing down, and Mark [Walker] is pretty confident. You've got to have a go, don't you?"
Coupland, a prolific owner in New Zealand, has not had a Melbourne Cup runner.
Walker was a happy trainer.
"We'll go to the Mackinnon and the Melbourne Cup now," he said.
"She finished it off well and we've just got to hope she pulls up well."
The other New Zealand-trained runners disappointed: Mandela 11th and 2005 Caulfield Cup winner Railings 14th.
Mandela's trainer Richard Yuill was "dumbfounded" by the run and said there was nothing amiss yesterday. "The only thing I can think of is I was a bit kind to him last week [in training].
"Initially, I thought the Melbourne Cup was a waste of time but we'll possibly head to the Saab [over 2500m on November 3] and take it from there."
Railings did not race generously after Greg Childs pushed forward from the wide draw under instructions.
Blinkers may be used for the Mackinnon and Melbourne Cup.
- NZPA
