The support of Gai Waterhouse was foremost in the mind of Damien Oliver when he chose to ride Bull Point over the Tony Vasil-trained Prince Harada.
Oliver rode Prince Harada to sixth in last year’s Caulfield Guineas but told Vasil last week he had decided to ride the Waterhouse-trained Bull Point when the pair clash in Saturday’s Group Three Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Bull Point - Photo by Steve Hart
Vasil was still angry with the jockey’s decision on Friday night after Oliver partnered his charge Richie’s Vibe to a Group Two win in the Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley.
Oliver said it had not been an easy choice.
“They both look pretty smart horses so they were really hard to split,” Oliver said.
“It was certainly a hard choice to make.”
Oliver has ridden many winners for Waterhouse since he returned last September from a 10-month ban for a betting offence, with the highlight the Melbourne Cup on Fiorente.
“There wasn’t a lot in it to be honest,” Oliver said of the decision between the two colts.
“It was probably just the fact that Gai has been a pretty big supporter for so long. But in saying that, they’ve both got great chances and would both be great rides.”
Bull Point hasn’t started since his eye-catching third in the Group One Golden Rose (1400m) in Sydney in September where he trailed the field before launching a late run to fill the minor placing.
Bull Point and Prince Harada are among 12 nominations for the Manfred along with stakes winner Fast `N’ Rocking and the promising Robbie Laing-trained Lord Of The Sky who is also entered for the W J Adams Stakes (1100m) against older horses.
Oliver rode Bull Point in work last week and was impressed.
“He gave me a good feel,” he said.
Bull Point got a look at Caulfield on Saturday in an exhibition gallop between races, working with two-year-old stablemate Francesco.
Craig Williams filled in for Oliver on Bull Point in the gallop and said the colt would have benefited from having a look around Caulfield.
Prince Harada is on the second line of betting for the Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) on March 1 at $8 behind Cox Plate winner Shamus Award ($7) with Bull Point at $15.
Vasil rates Prince Harada, who will be ridden by Blake Shinn on Saturday, as a Group One horse in the making and hopes he proves it this campaign.
