Racing: Vinnie Roe steals show at Flemington

By MIKE DILLON in Melbourne

Mark Weld says you have to train Melbourne Cup favourite Vinnie Roe's mind as much as his body.

And when you saw him gallop at Flemington for the first time yesterday, you knew what he meant.

When Vinnie Roe arrived at Flemington in the dark at 5.30am after a float ride from Sandown and Weld chased journalists and two television camera crews away from the area of the tie-up stalls he was using, you assumed the young Weld was imitating the sometimes irritable attitude of his father, master Irish trainer Dermot Weld.

You quickly learned he wasn't.

Like just about all good horses, Vinnie Roe appears extremely intelligent and was keen to take everything of his new surroundings in mentally. He watched everything intently and several times reacted with excitement.

He is highly strung for a stayer and Weld was determined to allow the horse space away from the crowds before his gallop.

When he was waiting in the centre of the track for his galloping partner, the Robert Smerdon-trained Sale Of The Century, Vinnie Roe became impatient and annoyed. He clearly likes to get on with things.

He did just that in the 1600m gallop on the sand-based Viscoride track, starting three lengths behind Sale Of The Century and working away by a couple of lengths from the 200m, running the last 400m in a smart 23.8. He looked very sharp.

"He gave me a very good feel - I'm very happy," Irish jockey Pat Smullen told Weld as he dismounted.

"Thank you for all being understanding and giving him some space earlier," said a smiling and articulate Mark Weld 30 minutes later.

"He's not used to being crowded and I wanted him to adapt mentally to the scene without pressure."

Getting Vinnie Roe used to the Flemington surroundings before Melbourne Cup day is important.

"Yes, the size of the crowd on Tuesday will be a telling factor. None of these European horses will have seen anything like a crowd of 100,000 or more."

Physically, Vinnie Roe is nothing like the typical English stayers who have come to Australia. Certainly nothing like the aircraft-carrier-sized Persian Punch, Vintage Crop and even his own stablemate Media Puzzle.

He is light boned and, while you would not describe him as small, he's not a big, robust type.

When you first look at him you think of the 59kg he has to lump in the Melbourne Cup.

"The weight is a worry," conceded Weld.

"But it's not the only concern. There is the immense burden of being favourite. The fact that he's had a tough year in Europe and the problems of travelling to the other side of the world.

"I know how that travel affects you because I couldn't get to sleep at all last night, yet the night before I slept for 10 hours.

"It's the same for the horses."

Weld said Vinnie Roe's warrior attitude would help him carry the big weight.

"He likes nothing more than to get stuck into a battle."

The high cruising speed from the first stride of a Melbourne Cup has fried the brains of many European raiders who are used to hand cantering the first two thirds of most races.

That won't worry Vinnie Roe, says Weld.

"In fact, if the pace isn't up to much early, don't be surprised of you see the Europeans clubbing together to do something about it."

Interesting.

Weld wants to see rain for Vinnie Roe.

The horse has won many races on what is officially described as good footing in England, but that would be considerably more yielding than what is considered a good or firm track in Australia.

"He likes to get his toe into it," said Weld.

Weld has huge respect for Pugin.

"I know Vinnie Roe beat him a length and a half in the Irish St Leger, but the two of them drew right away from the rest.

"Interestingly, after that race the handicapper over home raised Pugin's weight and dropped ours.

"If the two of them were put in a race in Europe tomorrow, there would be no more than 1.5kg, maybe even 1kg between them - yet in the Melbourne Cup there is 5.5kg between them.

"That's an awful lot of weight and something Godolphin Stable will be looking to exploit.

"Even though we have a 100 per cent record against Pugin, he's a very, very tough horse and I'm sure Frankie [Dettori] will ride him with a lot of confidence.

"It's no secret Vinnie Roe lost more weight on the trip here than we would have liked. He will lose a couple of more kilos with this morning's gallop, so how he comes through the gallop will be critical."

Stablemate Media Puzzle is ready for the big one.

"He's dead right for the Cup."