Shocking on course to win successive Cups

Thu 2 Sep

Some of his spring stars have fallen behind with Victoria's wet winter, but trainer Mark Kavanagh said Shocking is on target to win back-to-back Melbourne Cups.

Speaking to Tony Jones and Michael Christian on Prime Time Sport Interactive this morning from his clocker's hut at Flemington, Kavanagh echoed the sentiments of many trainers around the state that crave some fine weather to dry out waterlogged surfaces.

"I've got a lot of horses that are floundering on wet tracks that I can't get a handle on," Kavanagh said.

"Where I am now is in a big soup of mud and I can't get a handle on where we are going.

"We are starting to get a bit behind to tell you the truth. You can't control the weather and barrier draws."

He was far more optimistic about the challenge of going back-to-back with Shocking, who is favourite with TAB Sportsbet to win the $6 million handicap on November 2 and runs in the $400,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.

"Not many horses do (win consecutive Melbourne Cups), but, at the end of the day, he did win pretty decisively, he is pretty consistent at those distances and at Flemington,'' the astute trainer said..

"He was four last year and did it well. He is on his way up and is a lightly-raced horse. You would expect him to be better this year.

"He looks terrific. He's lost that immature look and turned into a bit of an athlete. Hopefully there is something left in the tank.''

Up 6kg to 57kg compared with the weight he won with last year, Kavanagh said he expected as much after a discussion with Racing Victoria handicapper Greg Carpenter earlier in the year. He was given the same mark as Viewed last year off the back of his 2008 success.

"He should be to graduate to that. It is less than weight-for-age, so he should be able to cope," Kavanagh said.

Image by aap