The rain that has fallen in MelbourneĀ withĀ the prospect of more has been welcomed by Glen ThompsonĀ as he shoots for a Melbourne Cup berth with Whisky On The Hill.
The Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) at Flemington on Saturday holds a ‘win and you’re in’ ticket for the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington in November.
Whisky OnĀ TheĀ Hill is vying for that ticket, along with 12 rivals, but Thompson concedesĀ the stayerĀ has not had the ideal preparation for Saturday’s races.
The gelding will be fourth up into Saturday’sĀ contestĀ and is coming off a last start sixth to Birdman in Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on March 14.
That followed a midfield finish in the Australian Cup Prelude (2000m) a week earlier which was four weeks after WhiskyĀ OnĀ TheĀ Hill resumed with a soundĀ fifthĀ over 1600m at Caulfield on February 7.
Thompson said Saturday’s race had been in the planning following WhiskyĀ OnĀ TheĀ Hill’s victory in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington during Melbourne CupĀ week.
“It’sĀ been the plan since the time he came in, but weĀ haven’tĀ had the smoothest of preps,” Thompson said.
“He missed a run early on which really put us on the backfoot.
“It’sĀ unfortunate the programming hereĀ isn’tĀ ideal to get to a race like thisĀ as there was no ideal lead-up, onlyĀ a 2000-metre race three weeksĀ beforehand.
“He was supposed to run over 2000-metres at Caulfield two weeks before the Flemington race, but he pulled a shoe off and stood on a nail, so he missed that run.
“We ran him at Flemington andĀ IĀ couldn’tĀ go third-up into a 2600-metre race, so I dropped him back in distance and ran in the Peter Young.
“He’sĀ fit enough for it. HeĀ wouldn’tĀ be running if IĀ didn’tĀ think he was.
“The bit of rain forecast is ideal, itĀ doesn’tĀ look an overly strong race, but heĀ hasn’tĀ had the perfect prep for it.”
Thompson said the Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on April 11Ā remainsĀ a possibility for WhiskyĀ OnĀ TheĀ Hill, especially if the heavens open north of the border.
“I tossed up about aborting this race before the 1800-metreĀ at Caulfield and running in the Manion Cup in Sydney, but thenĀ he’sĀ got thisĀ 2600-metre runĀ under the belt if weĀ doĀ decide toĀ go to Sydney,” Thompson said.
