Deauville Legend trainer James Ferguson says his gelding is in tip-top shape heading into the Melbourne Cup.
Deauville Legend will carry the weight of expectation when the four-year-old gelding jumps as the favourite for the 3200m race that stops a nation. The European galloper is currently the $3.50 favourite to claim the $4.4 million first prize.
Punters confidence increased when fellow import El Bodegon ran home strongly for third in the Cox Plate earlier in October, given that horse ran third to Deauville Legend in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur at York in August.
Fiorente’s triumph for Gai Waterhouse back in 2013 was the last time a favourite won the Melbourne Cup, but Ferguson is confident his horse is in the right order to buck the trend.
“(I’m feeling) good. Watching the horse at Werribee this morning, I think he’s in great nick. I can’t be sending the horse into the race in better form, I feel, so the rest is up to him,” he told SEN on Monday.
The Melbourne Cup will be Deauville Legend’s eighth start. However, the previous seven have been on a good track, meaning there are question marks over his form on the likely wet surface that will greet horses at Flemington on Tuesday.
Despite the concerns over Deauville Legend’s ability to handle a soft or heavy track, Ferguson isn’t fazed.
“I’m not too bothered (by the weather forecast) to be honest. He’s got a pedigree that says he’ll handle the soft (track). Whatever it is tomorrow, it won’t be English soft… we’ll get what we’re given and hope luck goes our way,” he stated.
Deauville Legend has drawn perfectly in barrier 9 and will have the experience of three-time Melbourne Cup Kerrin McEvoy onboard.