The international visitors will turn their heads to the Geelong Cup to salvage some pride after being humbled in Saturday's Caulfield Cup.Luca Cumani-trained Basaltico and Godolphin's Crime Scene head betting charts for Wednesday's Geelong Cup (2406m) after Caulfield failures of their respective stablemates Cima De Triomphe and Kirklees.International raiders have a perfect record at Geelong with Media Puzzle winning the Cup in 2002 and the Cumani-trained Bauer scoring last year.They went on to u
The international visitors will turn their heads to the Geelong Cup to salvage some pride after being humbled in Saturday's Caulfield Cup.
Luca Cumani-trained Basaltico and Godolphin's Crime Scene head betting charts for Wednesday's Geelong Cup (2406m) after Caulfield failures of their respective stablemates Cima De Triomphe and Kirklees.
International raiders have a perfect record at Geelong with Media Puzzle winning the Cup in 2002 and the Cumani-trained Bauer scoring last year.
They went on to underline the Geelong Cup as a strong form race for the Melbourne Cup with Media Puzzle becoming the first to win both races and Bauer failing by a nose to beat Viewed at Flemington last year.
Basaltico is 33rd in order of elimination for the Melbourne Cup and would assure himself a start at Flemington if he can win at Geelong while Crime Scene, ranked 21st on the list, is already guaranteed a run.
Sara Cumani said she was happy with way Basaltico was going, but added it was hard to go into the Geelong Cup with any degree of confidence after Cima de Triomphe finished 14th in the Caulfield Cup.
"We just can't explain what went wrong," Cumani said.
Charlie Henson, assistant trainer to Luca Cumani, said Cima De Triomphe's effort was his worst in five runs since joining the stable early this year.
"Damien (Oliver) said the track might have been a bit soft for him but that's only looking for excuses because I walked it at 2pm and I thought the going was fine," Henson said.
"He just didn't perform anywhere near as well as we know he can."
Cima De Triomphe was on the track this morning and at this stage is likely to run in the Group One Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Derby Day.
A top three placing in the Mackinnon would guarantee him a run in the Melbourne Cup as it passes the ballot clause, but Sara Cumani said it was unlikely he would back-up three days later.
Kirklees did not go out on the track this morning and Godolphin's travelling foreman Tommy Strang said he would have a couple of quiet days in the stable.
"We're just concentrating on the Geelong Cup at the moment," Strang said.
On Monday TAB Sportsbet opened Basaltico at $6.50 for the Geelong Cup ahead of Crime Scene $7.50.
A winner of eight of his 27 starts, Crime Scene is topweight with 57.5kg and will jump from gate three with Kerrin McEvoy.
Damien Oliver who won the Geelong Cup on Media Puzzle and Bauer will ride Basaltico who has barrier 13 and will carry 55.5kg.
Meanwhile David Hayes will make up his mind on immediate plans for Changingoftheguard after a gallop at Sandown on Thursday.
Glen Boss rode the former Aidan O'Brien-trained stayer in an easy 2000 metres in just under even time on Saturday and he had a similar hitout on Sunday.
Hayes has arranged a strong gallop on Thursday with the Herman Brown-trained stablemates Bankable and Mourilyan who have looked impressive in the week they have been in Melbourne.
"They will go a mile (1600m) and come home the last three (600m), Hayes said.
"That will decide whether we step up his preparation for the Melbourne Cup, concentrate on the Mackinnon (on Derby Day), or send him for a spell."
Hayes said Changingoftheguard had put on 20 kilos since his arrival in Melbourne and he was really pleased with his condition.