PS: A word on Caitano. I have seen this horse race since 2yo - and he's 8 now :smile: He didn't run so well today in the Cox Plate, but I want to add some thoughts on him too. His main target this season always has been the Melbourne Cup. He is one thorough stayer who won over 1900 meters at two, and has raced in Group I race company over 2400 from there on. He was surely not suited by the Cox Plates distance nor course, but I think there he was given a breeze-up preparation for the Cup, for acclimatising him and getting used to the Australian way of racing.

Caitano is one lazy sonofab* He is one of the fastest horses of recent time in Germany (don't laugh now, we take race times, too) and clearly one of the very best but he has grown into a sort of a character over the years so he decides if he wants to try or not. If yes, he has a blistering turn of foot, coming from behind like a fire engine.

Only problem I see about the Melbourne Cup is, he likes to fly in air planes before the races. They even thought of flying him from his local track Cologne to Dusseldorf race course (which is about 30 km away) to make him consider running fast. He recently completed his 30th air journey. More than I have flown :smile:

Caitano has been dubbed "the international consolation prize winner" for being placed so often. I'd say he's a great longshot in the Melbourne Cup. On ability he can easily place - only jinx is: will he want to?