"They're all talking about the Japanese horses, especially Bande, taking the pace in the race, so it will be a truly run mile and a half race which will suit our boy," O'Leary said yesterday from his Whangaehu dairy farm.
"Glen Boss [Saturday's rider] hopefully can get one of the rail somewhere handy in the running, although the horse can run from anywhere. We haven't talked to Chris since late last week, but the horse is very well and everything seems to have gone to plan.
"Chris has always said he is an out-and-out stayer and the Melbourne Cup is the perfect race for him with the big roomy track the key.
"He hasn't raced at Caulfield yet, but as long as there's a bit of pace on he'll cope.
"Chris has three other runners in the Cup on Saturday and his Metropolitan Cup winner Junoob looks like he's likely to go forward too."
In an interview with the Melbourne-based Herald Sun, Waller said he was leaning more toward Junoob before the barrier draw, and while barrier 15 "wasn't ideal" it's "not a disaster", and he was still prepared to go with the last-start Metropolitan winner.
Who Shot Thebarman has been widely touted as a Flemington specialist who will only improve over two miles in the Melbourne Cup.
But as Waller said: "If he's to win a Melbourne Cup, he'll be wanting to run in the first three on Saturday, or be going close."
Waller's other Caulfield Cup runners Hawkspur (nine) and Moriarty (seven) both drew well and are right in with a decent chance, Waller said.
Who Shot Thebarman was framed at $13 to win with both Australian and New Zealand bookmakers yesterday.
Meanwhile, Japanese raiders Bande ($8.50) and Admire Rakti ($10) drew barriers eight and 10.
Win lose or draw on Saturday, O'Leary said celebrations would be relatively low key with the focus on the big race on Tuesday, November 4.
