Nom Du Jeu primed for big Cup run

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Murray Baker isn't so presumptuous as to put the French champagne on ice.

But there is an air of quiet confidence about the Cambridge trainer as he puts the finishing touches on New Zealand's great hope in tomorrow's A$5.5 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.

Baker, a former Central Districts cricket leg spinner who has forged a career in racing to rank among New Zealand's training greats, is hoping it's fifth time lucky with Caulfield Cup runner-up Nom du Jeu in the most prized staying race in the world.

He saddled The Phantom to run fourth in the 1989 Melbourne Cup and second the following year, Pontiac Lass to finish 21st in 1991 and Prized Gem to run 14th in the 2002 Cup.

Nom du Jeu is a four-year-old son of Prized Gem by former Windsor Park Stud shuttle sire Montjeu with a Gr I victory in this year's $A2 million AJC Derby in Sydney already under his belt. He was second in both the Gr I Stoney Bridge Stakes and Gr I Kelt Capital Stakes at Hastings before finishing second to All The Good in last month's A$2.5 million Caulfield Cup.

"I'm very happy with him. He's well. He's fit and he's improved a lot from the Caulfield Cup," Baker said from his base at Caulfield last night.

"It was a very good run in the Caulfield [Cup] and he was a bit unlucky. He had to clear traffic and if he'd got out a bit sooner, well, who knows? The Caulfield Cup is usually a good guide to the Melbourne Cup.

"I'm sure he'll go a good honest race because he's a good honest horse. I've tried to keep him a little on the fresh side so he's got that sprint at the finish.

"To win a Melbourne Cup these days, you've got to be able to stay the trip and you've got to be able to sprint at the finish."

Former South African rider Jeff Lloyd retains the ride on Nom du Jeu tomorrow. He was aboard the horse when he won the AJC Derby and again in the Caulfield Cup.

Lloyd, 49, has ridden Nom du Jeu, whom rates he as the best stayer he's ridden in a long and esteemed career, in each of the last 11 mornings at Caulfield and is rapt with his progress.

Baker, who trains in partnership with his son Bjorn, is refusing to get carried away.

"You just want to get your horse to the post sound, happy and fit. They are the three things you need to be able to compete," Baker said.

"You need a lot of luck in a field of 24 runners but he's got a good draw in barrier one and he shouldn't have to cover any extra ground. This is the big one but they are hard to win here. Melbourne in the spring is the toughest arena of them all."

Baker, who has Rios in tomorrow's $100,000 Lindauer Stakes at Ellerslie, has had his share of success at the top level in Australia but he has no illusions of the task facing Nom du Jeu.

"I like racing in Australia. Over the years, I've won six Gr I races here. It's very competitive but it's always good when you've got a horse good enough to compete.

"You've just got to grab the opportunity when it comes. It's a great race and, man, the hype - I've been through it before but you can't help but realise what it's all about.

"With so many Europeans here - I think there's eight or nine - and the Australians and New Zealanders, it's a true international race. I've just seen Mark Weld (son of Irish trainer Dermot Weld) interviewed and he said 'this is the race to win'.

"It's a race which has changed in recent years because you need an absolutely top-class horse. Whereas in the old days you could win it with the right type of handicapper down the bottom of the weights, with the top European horses coming down, you need a top-class horse to win it.

"He's as close as I'll get. He's a Derby winner out of a two-miler winner by a champion European sire in Montjeu. He can certainly stay but we'll need a lot of luck. If you think you've got a horse, you just take your chance."

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