Williams drives Caravan to Cup

While a brilliant ride from jockey Craig Williams secured the champion hoop his fifth Sportingbet Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m), it did not guarantee Caravan Rolls On a start in the Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m).

Trainer Danny O’Brien hopes Racing Victoria’s chief handicapper Greg Carpenter will penalise the Geelong Cup-winning entire two kilograms (he is at 51 kilograms) following his win in the $300,000.

Caravan Rolls On sits at 45 in the order of entry; a two-kilogram penalty would see the stayer move to 36 with O’Brien to rely on an order of attrition to make it to the race that stops the nation.

The last two Geelong Cup winners have been given a one kilogram penalty. Carpenter will announce the re-handicapping tomorrow morning.

O’Brien said he was stoked with Williams’ ride but there was a “hell of a lot” of improvement to come” from the seven-year-old.

“I’d hope he gets a penalty; those horses that are on the lighter weights are getting the bigger penalties, the horse that won the Herbert Power got two kilos the other day, it was a similar standard of dress as today so if we can get a penalty of that sort of nature, he’ll be in the Cup,” O’Brien said.

“If he gets to Flemington and he gets his two-miles he’ll be a top-six chance for sure.

Williams said the Qatar Bloodstock-owned seven-year-old would be competitive at two miles if he made the cut.

“He’s changed; the way he came into the yard today, the way that he stood in the gates; he was a serious racehorse today, he really outstayed them late today,” Williams said.

Caravan Rolls On ($8.50) finished three-quarters-of-a-length ahead of Marksmanship ($8.50) with Like A Carousel ($9.50) a length away in third.

Story appears courtesy of Racing.com, to view Racing.com Video wrap of Geelong Cup Day click here

Photo by Michael Dodge, Getty Images