O'Brien duo to go the distance

Flemington trainer Danny O'Brien is hoping Eraset will respond positively to a drop back in distance at Caulfield tomorrow.

O'Brien feels the gelding's last run, when he finished fifth in the Listed Diamond Jubilee Plate on November 6, showed 1800 metres was a stretch too far.

Eraset, who has a nose second to Group 1 Emirates Stakes winner Happy Trails at his only Caulfield 1600m run on his CV, will drop back to his pet trip over a mile in Saturday's Hayman Plate, a distance he has won over four and placed six times.

The six-year-old was spelled after his last win at Flemington in June, pictured, but has failed to find his best form in four subsequent runs.

"Eraset is going back to a mile, which he's got terrific form at, after the Melbourne Cup Day run," O'Brien said.

It will be a different story for O'Brien's other runner on Saturday, Keep Cool.

The gelding, who has been racing consistently this campaign without winning, is coming off a last start fourth to Commanding Time over 2040m at Moonee Valley.

He has drawn gate two in the Perri Cutten Plate (2430m) and O'Brien is convinced that he has a competitive runner with the change in trip.

"Keep Cool is stepping up to 2400 and it will be a good race for him," he said.

Story by Robert Grant for Ninemsn, to view full story click here

Photo by Bruno Cannatelli, to view Bruno's website click here