Perseverance finally paid off for New Zealand trainer, Murray Baker, with the Caulfield Cup win of Mongolian Khan.

Baker is no stranger to Caulfield; he has been there several times but didn’t quite make it
into the winner’s stall.

Lady Luck kept ignoring him with Harris Tweed 2010, and Nom Du Jeu finishing second 2008, and The Phantom, third in 1993, justice has finally been served with the win of Mongolian Khan 2015.

Weight for age form is among racing’s greatest levellers, it has stood the test of time since the period of Admiral Rouse.

Whilst Mongolian Khan had not won at weight for age, he was next door to it, with a strong third in the Caulfield Stakes the week before the Cup.

Ironically, in a field of 18 runners, and a race worth $3 million, there was not one last start winner in the race.

Mongolian Khan winning the Caulfield Cup

Murray Baker, the trainer of Mongolian Khan, is reminiscent of some of the old style trainers we have known, going about their business with a minimum of fuss, the horse was always paramount.

Baker had his mission well planned for his horse after he won the ATC Derby, when weights were declared for the Cups, Mongolian Khan would be restricted to weight for age races, to ensure he didn’t incur a penalty if he won any of the lead up races.

Opie Bosson is not a regular traveller to our shores, preferring to ride in his native New Zealand, where he has been among the leading riders for several years.

It was Bosson at his best, he settled the favourite down quickly with the majority of the field behind him, after a smooth passage saw him hit the front on the home turn, there were no serious challenges thereafter.

Cup winner returning to scale

Of course a penalty can now be expected for the Melbourne Cup, which is a natural although handicapper, Greg Carpenter, is never severe, he gives every horse a winning chance.

The L K S McKinnon Stakes is the only option Baker has now if the horse is in need of another run before the Melbourne Cup.

Mongolian Khan won well on Saturday, he only needs to retain his form, the invasion of overseas horses appears stronger this year, Snow Sky, Fair Game, Our Ivanhowe, now trained by (Lee and Anthony Freedman), has improved in each of his three starts since arriving from Germany.

Snow Sky, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, and wearing the colours carried by the unbeaten Frankel ,was handy on the home turn in the Caulfield Cup, with a winning chance he gave a little ground over the last 100 metres, he had not raced since late July, improvement could be expected.

Murray Baker and Opie B0sson

Fame Game, from Japan, is right on the ball, he passed 12 horses in the straight to finish sixth, the additional 800 metres of the Melbourne Cup will not bother him, he is among the definite chances.

Hokko Brave, also owned and trained in Japan, was only fair at best, the bigger track may suit better but still a lot of improvement would be necessary if he was going to be a definite threat at Flemington.

With natural improvement Trip To Paris is a big chance, he won the Ascot Gold Cup over 4023 metres, and was just beaten in the Goodwood Cup over 3219 metres, while in the Caulfield Cup he was finishing at the rate of knots, he cannot be overlook in the Melbourne Cup.

Trip To Paris is a stable mate of Red Cadeaux, a runner again this year, after three seconds he is catching up to Shadow King who finished second twice and third twice.