Gold Trip not a certain Caulfield Cup 2023 starter
Ben Melham has gone close to winning the Caulfield Cup and even though he is booked to ride Gold Trip is none the wiser as to whether the horse will run.
The track condition on Saturday will be key to whether Gold Trip runs in the Group 1 Handicap over 2400m in which he has 58.5kg and is the current $5.00 favourite with online bookmakers Neds and Ladbrokes.
Trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace have indicated Gold Trip could be withdrawn from Saturday's race if they believe the track is too firm, but Melham said he is preparing himself as if he is starting.
Melham found out he was riding Gold Trip at acceptance time on Wednesday as Maher and Eustace grappled with the decision over what was best for the horse.
"Obviously, he's a great hope, he's going better than ever, his form suggests that, so it's just whether he runs or not," Melham said.
"It's a very exciting ride to pick up."
Melham said he put his best case forward to ride Gold Trip to Maher and was in a tussle with now Hong Kong-based Hugh Bowman for the mount.
He said he had to play his cards carefully, mindful of not going over the top with Mahar, but also letting him know that he was keen to ride the horse.
Melham admitted to being disheartened when Maher legged regular rider Mark Zahra aboard Gold Trip in a track gallop with stablemate Right You Are at Caulfield on Tuesday morning.
While Melham may have missed that opportunity, he did ride the imported galloper in trackwork not long after he first arrived on Australian shores.
"I was supposed to ride him in the Cox Plate a couple of years ago.
"I was on him and copped a suspension, so Ollie (Damien Oliver) got on him, so it will be good to finally get on him in a race, if he does run.
"I'd love to win a Caulfield Cup. I've placed in it three or four times, gone pretty close a couple of times for Lloyd (Williams).
"It's a race I would like to have on the mantlepiece before I finish my career."
Gold Trip has barrier 11 on Saturday, the same gate he jumped from when runner-up to Durston in last year's Caulfield Cup.
Melham said the draw does not worry him.
"He gets back and finds his rhythm. He's got the weight to carry, but he's earned that," Melham said.
"I think more importantly his soundness is really good, his feet are good, and just visually watching him he couldn't have been more impressive."
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