Luke Nolen expects to head to the Werribee quarantine centre this week to have his first ride aboard import Constantinople who he is booked to partner in the $5 million Caulfield Cup.
The former Aidan O’Brien-trained Constantinople is now in the care of the Lindsay Park stable after being sold to clients of David Hayes.
Constantinople, a northern hemisphere three-year-old, is on the third line of Caulfield Cup betting at $15 while he is also high up in Melbourne Cup markets.
Nolen, famous as the jockey of champion sprinter Black Caviar, has formed an association with the Lindsay Park stable in recent times and has been given the nod to ride the horse in the 2019 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 19.
Second in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York in his most recent start, Constantinople was one of a host of European horses to arrive in Melbourne at the weekend and is in quarantine at the Werribee racecourse ahead of his spring carnival assignments.
“I think this week I go out there and have a spin around on him and see how he’s settled in,” Nolen told RSN927.
“But I’m very excited to do so.
“He comes with decent enough form and he’s probably got a good racing style for a Caulfield Cup as well.
“Hopefully all that, with a nice weight, combines with a good result in three weeks’ time.”
Nolen, chasing his first Caulfield Cup win, has to get down to 53kg for the ride.
“I ride 54 this weekend for the first time in a good while,” he said.
“My headspace is really good and my body is really good. I’m looking forward to the challenge. I can’t wait.”
