Well-drawn Vermeer new Caulfield Cup favourite in absence of Japanese ace

Johannes Vermeer is the new favourite for the BMW Caulfield Cup after star Japanese stayer Admire Dues was ruled out with a life-threatening tendon injury.

The four-year-old colt is a best-priced 9-2 with British and Irish firms after being drawn in stall two for Saturday's showpiece at Caulfield, but fellow Irish raider Wicklow Brave was not so lucky and is in stall 16 of 17. The Hughie Morrison-trained Marmelo is in ten.

Victory for Johannes Vermeer would mean Aidan O'Brien equals Bobby Frankel's world record of 25 top-level Flat wins in a calendar year, and jockey Ben Melham believes that dream is very much alive after getting a favourable draw.

"Stall two is ideal and he has a lot of things in his favour now. He looks to me like an ideal type for the Caulfield Cup and it would be nice if I could play a small part in helping Aidan create some history," he said.

Marmelo is a 20-1 shot but jockey Hugh Bowman believes the mile-and-a-half contest could be on the sharp side for the stout stayer, and will be more of a stepping stone for the Melbourne Cup next month over a more suitable two miles.

Bowman said on Tuesday: "I sat on Marmelo this morning but he didn't do as much as last Friday. I had a pretty firm gallop with him then. It did its job and stimulated him.

"He was much more on the bridle this time. He was more alert and aware of what he was up to. He was very comfortable. He's so much more alert now than the first couple of days I rode him.

“I expect him to run very well but it's a long time since he ran over a trip as short as the Caulfield Cup. He's here for the Melbourne Cup, and the Caulfield Cup is a good stepping stone towards that."

Marmelo: Hugh Bowman is expecting a good run in the Caulfield Cup on Saturday

Lord Fandango, trained by Archie Alexander, has attracted support at juicy prices according to Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes, and is quoted at 12-1 with the firm after drawing stall 12.

McGeady said: "Lord Fandango is a massive improver, beating Wall Of Fire to win the Herbert Power Stakes. This is certainly a big step-up in class for him, but support suggests some punters are hopeful."

The Willie Mullins-trained Wicklow Brave drew the outside stall in last year's Melbourne Cup and has only one outside him on Saturday, so it is hardly surprising a few firms quote him at 40-1.

Admire Dues was the most notable absentee after suffering a nasty injury, believed to be to ligaments in the lower part of the suspensory, in a routine track gallop at Warrnambool.

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