Danny O'Brien couldn't be happier with his three Caulfield Cup runners and has a slight leaning to Master O'Reilly over Douro Valley as his best chance in Australia's toughest 2400-metre handicap.Master O'Reilly won the race last year by 2-1/4 lengths from Douro Valley but meets him 3kg worse at the weights on Saturday, while outsider Barbaricus is O'Brien's third string."On form it's pretty hard to split Master O'Reilly and Douro Valley other than the fact that Master O'Reilly has been there, d
Danny O'Brien couldn't be happier with his three Caulfield Cup runners and has a slight leaning to Master O'Reilly over Douro Valley as his best chance in Australia's toughest 2400-metre handicap.
Master O'Reilly won the race last year by 2-1/4 lengths from Douro Valley but meets him 3kg worse at the weights on Saturday, while outsider Barbaricus is O'Brien's third string.
"On form it's pretty hard to split Master O'Reilly and Douro Valley other than the fact that Master O'Reilly has been there, done that and he's just outstanding at the 2400 metres," O'Brien said.
"I'd probably go for Master O'Reilly if I had to pick for my life."
Master O'Reilly will be attempting to become only the third horse to win back-to-back Caulfield Cups after Poseidon (1906-07) and Rising Fast (1954-55) but O'Brien is taking heart from the six-year-old's impressive second to Littorio in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington at his latest appearance on October 4.
"Horses that run well in the Turnbull generally run well in the Caulfield Cup. It's another year, it's a different race altogether," he said.
"I've been very single-minded about this year's Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. Everything we've done with him since last year's Melbourne Cup has been focused on getting him in the type of shape he's in."
Master O'Reilly had been beaten only once in five starts in the 2400m-2600m distance range.
He started favourite in last year's Caulfield Cup after the late withdrawal of the short-priced Maldivian before also starting favourite in the Melbourne Cup and finishing eighth.
The gelding has gone up to 6kg to 56.5kg on last year's Caulfield Cup which includes the weights being raised 1.5kg this year.
"Obviously winning the Caulfield Cup last year means you are going to go up in weight the following year but at the same time I don't think he's been terribly handicapped," he said.
"He carried 57kg in the Turnbull and he's giving two or three kilos to most of his rivals, it's not like he's giving them five or six. The only ones right down in the weights are Guillotine (51.5kg), Zagreb (52kg) and Barbaricus (52kg)."
O'Brien has given Master O'Reilly a lighter preparation this year and he goes into the Cup at his third run back as opposed to his fifth run last year.
"He's got really fresh legs. He's done very little racing since the Melbourne Cup last year. Certainly on his run in the Turnbull I don't think we've got any queries on his fitness and he's ready to go the 2400 metres," O'Brien said.
"He's a very natural staying sort of horse so I'm hoping it is improving his chances not affecting them."
While Master O'Reilly drew barrier 13, last week's Yalumba Stakes winner Douro Valley fared better with gate three and should get a beautiful run.
"As long as he can get into his stride coming down the straight the first time he should be able to get into a good position and James (Winks) should be able to get him moving when he wants to," O'Brien said.
"He should be right in the leading horses as they come to the corner. He managed to clear out last year but obviously he was picked up by his stablemate.
"He meets Master O'Reilly three kilos better this year and maybe that will be enough for him to kick a little bit stronger at the top of the straight."
Barbaricus, the first emergency who gained a run with Thursday's scratching of Kibbutz, is backing up after finishing runner-up in last Sunday's Cranbourne Cup (2025m).
The grey will jump from the outside barrier (18) and O'Brien said the tactic may be for jockey Stephen Baster to "grab hold of him, go back and come with one run".
The Lion Hunter four-year-old is having his first 2400m test but the Flemington trainer said he'd always thought he'd be strong at the distance.
"He's always hit the line strongly at every race he's ever had," O'Brien said.
"Obviously it's the toughest 2400 metres for the year but he's a very genuine racehorse. He never runs a bad race."
Seven-time Group One winner Weekend Hussler is now $4.40 favourite with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Littorio ($5.50), Master O'Reilly ($7) and Guillotine at $12.
Douro Valley is at $17 while Barbaricus, who attracted a bet of $3,000 each-way at $126 on Thursday night, is now $101.