Jockey Ben Melham was in a bullish mood after partnering Caulfield Cup hope Maximal in a track gallop ahead of Saturday’s Group 1 race.
But his mood was not as bright on Wednesday when rain began falling with the likelihood of a track bordering on heavy for the 2400m handicap on Saturday.
Maximal needs a dry track to perform at his best and the track at Caulfield on Wednesday was softened by rain from a Good 4 to Soft 7 before the first race.
Further heavy rain was predicted head of Saturday.
Maximal came to Australia to contest last year’s Golden Eagle, in which he finished sixth, and his career since has been punctuated by some mixed performances.
His best runs have come in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2100m) and the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) in which he finished second on both occasions.
Melham rode Maximal in the Turnbull Stakes and partnered the UK-bred import in his gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday morning.
“He certainly wasn’t hurt by his run in the Turnbull,” Melham said.
“It was his first time around Caulfield, and he got around really well. He was full of himself and had a nice gallop and ran home strongly and most importantly he cornered well.
“He got a firm track at Flemington, and he raced accordingly. That’s my only issue with him and I can’t fault the order the horse is in.”
Melham said Maximal was an athletic horse, not overly big, but robust and believes the horse will relish the 2400m journey.
Melham said Smokin’ Romans was the obvious one to beat after lowering his colours in the Turnbull.
“He’s has had a great preparation and he’s well-weighted,” Melham said.
“That’s one thing that is not in our favour, we have to give him weight for him beating us the other day, but it is a race and we have improved fitness wise, and I think out to 2400 will suit our bloke as well.”
