Godolphin-owned and race favourite Golden Mile has drawn barrier five for Saturday’s Group 1 Caulfield Guineas while second favourite Berkeley Square has drawn barrier two.
Lloyd Kennewell, however, believes his three-year-old Meridius is the forgotten horse.
Meridius closed off his preparation for Saturday’s stallion making race over 1600m with a gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday morning which his trainer said has the colt in the peak of condition.
“It was his final gallop for the week,” Kennewell said.
“He had a companion he could idle up to. It was exactly what we wanted to see, and his recovery was also what I wanted to see after a gallop like that.”
After a first-up closing second over 1200m at Moonee Valley, Meridius last appeared when second to Aft Cabin in the Group 3 Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on September 17.
That race was run in atrocious conditions, but Kennewell got see enough from his colt to suggest a forward showing on Saturday while the trainer is a little surprised Meridius has not been talked of more in Guineas discussions.
“But it’s good that he’s floating under the radar a little,” Kennewell said.
“No-one is really tipping him but he’s going about doing his business and he gives you 110 per cent when he races.
“After Saturday, he could be a valuable colt.”
The dent in the confidence could be the awkward widest barrier 16 in the capacity Caulfield Guineas field.
“He’s had a faultless preparation. He has gone from 1200 metres, which was good, to 1400 metres, which was great, and he’s up to the mile and it’s Grand Final Day on Saturday.
“He’s got a good turn of foot and he finishes off strongly. He’s the sort of horse that you want for the Guineas.”
Kennewell is hoping that the full extent of the forecast rain later in the week does not fall at Caulfield despite Meridius having an excellent wet track record.
“I would like to see him on a good track,” Kennewell said.
“His work on good tracks has always been very good, hence the reason why I’ve always had a high opinion of the horse.”
Meridius is rated a $17 chance with TAB while Golden Mile is the $3.50 favourite post-barrier draw.
Berkeley Square holds the second line of betting at $5.50.
