Baster gets confirmation of Caulfield Cup ride

Jockey Stephen Baster has received the phone call he was waiting for to confirm he will ride Jon Snow in the Caulfield Cup.

Baster has ridden the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained four-year-old in his three Melbourne starts this campaign, guiding him to victory in the JRA Cup at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

The winner of the Australian Derby in April, Jon Snow has 54.5kg in the $3 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 21 and is a $15 chance in latest markets.

Baster has previously finished second in the Caulfield Cup on Laebeel in 1999, second on Aqua D’Amore in 2006 and third on Barbaricus in 2008.

“It’s a race I’m pretty keen to win,” Baster said.

“I haven’t had many rides in it, probably five or six, and I’ve had two close seconds and a third and all three of them should have gone close.

“Laebeel was beaten a short-half-head by big Sky Heights.

“On Aqua D’Amore, I got them all off the bridle and the only horse that got held up was Tawqeet who got out late and stormed and got me.

“Then Barbaricus, he drew out wide and was three and four-wide the entire trip.

“His was the biggest run of all time and he ran third.”

Like Baker, Baster wouldn’t mind a bit of wet weather before the Caulfield Cup although he said it’s not a necessity.

Jon Snow’s win in the JRA Cup was his first on a good track.

“What we don’t want is a concrete track but Caulfield has been pretty good recently,” Baster said.

He will ride Jon Snow in the Caulfield Stakes (2000m) on October 14 ruling him out of the ride on Tulip in The Everest at Randwick.

Kerrin McEvoy will ride Jon Snow’s stablemate Bonnveval who has 52.5kg in the Caulfield Cup.

McEvoy replaces Hugh Bowman who rode the mare to win Sunday’s Group One Underwood Stakes but cannot make her Cup weight.

Bonneval is now the outright $5.50 favourite for the Caulfield Cup.

Hong Kong-based Chad Schofield has been booked to ride Harlem who has 51.5kg.