One way of securing a berth into the Caulfield Cup is to win the Herbert Power Stakes.
The Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) is run on Saturday week and there is inevitably a late scramble to secure a berth.
A total of 29 horses remain in contention for a Caulfield Cup start while 11 horses are set to face the starter in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) on Saturday which offers the winner a ballot exemption into the race.
Of the 11, Post Impressionist, Young Werther, Brayden Star or Plymouth needs to be victorious to secure a Caulfield Cup berth.
One galloper not among the remaining 29 in the Caulfield Cup, but who runs in the Herbert Power Stakes, is Whisky On The Hill with the sole intention of him being the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4.
Trainer Glen Thompson said Whisky Hill probably lacked the class to win the Caulfield Cup and would be better suited at the 3200m.
Thompson predicts Whisky On The Hill will need to win one of the remaining ballot exempt races to gain a start in the Flemington feature.
The Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 22 or the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) two days later are the next likely options.
“He’ll run Saturday then most likely the Geelong Cup or the Moonee Valley Gold Cup as we’re just trying to get him into the Melbourne Cup,” Thompson said.
“We decided to not focus on Caulfield as his aim all the way through has been the Melbourne Cup.
“I don’t think he’s classy enough to win the Caulfield Cup and running there, finishing a nice fifth, sixth or seventh, isn’t going to help you get into the Cup.
“I would rather go to Geelong or Moonee Valley, where you’re guaranteed of getting a start and being a chance of winning.”
Whisky On The Hill enters Saturday’s race having taken out the Listed Ansett Classic (2400m) at Mornington on September 28.
Thompson said Whisky On The Hill overcame difficulties to win at the fourth start of his campaign.
“He’s a horse that needs things his way and he’s capable of winning anything,” Thompson said.
“Nothing had gone right, but it fell into place at Mornington. He was held up coming around the corner and didn’t get out until the 150 metres.
“It ended up a good win as it’s hard for horses to come from where he did.”
