A BIG focus for horse racing fans tomorrow will be the Caulfield Cup, with one local “punter” having a bit more to cheer for.
Shane Dycer will head to the cup with a horse he owns a share in through the OTI Racing syndicate – Gallic Chieftain – with the hope to pull off a dream result.
Trained by Darren Weir and ridden by Dean Yendall, Gallic Chieftain was a late entry into the field, but this week drew barrier two.
That in itself was an exciting result for Dycer, who says he simply loves his horse racing and is keen to return to the cup this year to see how it all pans out.
“Myself, my wife Cath and father Chris, we have Dycer Racing and we have different size shares in horses around the place,” he said.
“Gallic Chieftain is my favourite.
“He has drawn barrier two, which is really exciting – it just gives you an opportunity.
“If he is not good enough, he is not good enough, but from barrier two we should see if we are up to the mark.”
However, Dycer said it would be a tough prospect to finish in a strong position.
“This is probably the strongest Caulfield Cup for a while,” he said.
“It is our third Caulfield Cup, but the first time we have drawn a decent gate.
“He is pretty big odds (at the time of going to print), but he is rock hard fit and really honest.
“He has had four starts over this distance for a first, a third and two fourths, so this is a nice distance for him.
“If we run top six in the Caulfield Cup, we are just about guaranteed a run in the Melbourne Cup.”
Dycer said the combination of Weir and Yendall was also a bonus.
“We have had a lot of luck with Darren (Weir),” he said.
“He is number one trainer in Australia at the moment.
“Dean Yendall cut his teeth around here.
“He rode a lot around Mount Gambier.
“He is one of Darren Weir’s five or six riders and has won four races on this horse.”
However, Dycer accepts anything can happen in horse racing.
He said it was a real thrill just to have a runner in the Caulfield Cup.
His biggest achievement has been a second place in the Turnbull Stakes, a Group 1 race, but so far he said he has not been able to crack a win at that level.
“A Group 1 win is the dream,” he said.
“It would be a nice dream to have to win this one.
“To be honest, if he runs in the top 10, it pays for the experience, if he runs in the top five we are well in front of the game and if he runs in the top three, that would be the dream.”
The Caulfield Cup is set down for 4.10pm Victorian time tomorrow.
