KEY POINTS:
MELBOURNE - Glen Boss believes Kiwi mare Princess Coup is the "unknown quantity" in Saturday's Caulfield Cup - even though she received a horror draw yesterday.
The Hong Kong-based jockey is also confident she has the ability to go on and win the Melbourne Cup, a race he won three times aboard the great mare Makybe Diva.
"You've got the exposed form of the Melbourne horses, it's there for all to see, they've been going around butting heads together for a while but she [Princess Coup] is an unknown quantity," Boss said last night.
Princess Coup, trained at Matamata by Mark Walker, drew 19 in the field of 20. She will come into barrier 17 if the two emergencies are the only scratchings.
The favourite Maldivian received the No 1 gate - and was immediately tightened even further by bookmakers who attended the draw.
Trainer Mark Kavanagh said the barrier would suit Saturday's impressive Yalumba Stakes winner who is an on-pace runner.
"From one he's not going to get trapped wide coming down to the first bend. It's all good," Kavanagh said.
"I'm just happy to be here with a horse in form. The draw is a bonus."
Second favourite Eskimo Queen also drew well in barrier five, immediately inside third pick Master O'Reilly, with leading Melbourne Cup contender Maybe Better in gate eight.
Mark Walker agreed with Boss that the wide draw may not be such a disadvantage.
"We're going to get back in the running anyway. I still think we're a great lightweight chance," he said.
"Maldivian's obviously the horse to beat and barrier one is only going to help him."
TAB Sportsbet reacted by shortening Maldivian further into $2.40, with Eskimo Queen remaining solid at $7.50.
The remainder of the field was at double figure odds.
Princess Coup immediately drifted two points to $16 on the seventh line of betting.
Walker said the brilliant Kelt Capital Stakes winner had taken no harm from Tuesday's transtasman flight and was confident Boss would weave his magic from the wide barrier.
"Glen knows the track and he's a big occasion rider. He seems to grow another leg, so to speak, in these big races.
"And my mare may never carry 51kg again in her life."
AAP
