Weld prolongs Roe decision
Dermot Weld may not make a decision on Vinnie Roe’s participation in the Emirates Melbourne Cup until the morning of the big race itself.
The Curragh trainer is concerned about the drying ground at Flemington for his four-time Irish St Leger Hero and will be closely monitoring the weather up until the Grade One contest on Tuesday.
“There are showers forecast and rain would be welcome,” Weld told the Racing Post.
“The ground here can dry out quickly and, while it doesn’t have to be soft for Vinnie Roe – good ground will be fine – I don’t want it to become in any way firm. If it means waiting until Tuesday morning before making a final decision, then that will be the case.”
The six-year-old, fourth in the two mile event in 2002, will be joined in ‘the race that stops a nation’ by his stable companion Media Puzzle, who was victorious that day.
The pair worked yesterday on the track at Sandown racecourse and were partnered by their big race jockeys.
Vinnie Roe was ridden by regular pilot Pat Smullen, while Media Puzzle was reunited with Damien Oliver, who rode him in the Melbourne Cup two years ago and has chosen to ride him again ahead of the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Distinction.
“Both horses seem to be in great form,” Weld added.
“Vinnie Roe took the long journey here a lot better than he did two years ago, but Media Puzzle has produced his best form in Australia and Damien is very pleased with him. It would be wrong for people to ignore his chance and he will run regardless of what the ground comes up.”
