Metal Bender has slipped from Caulfield Cup favouritism but still holds sway with his trainer Chris Waller.The triple Group One winner was elevated to the top of markets after his slashing fourth behind Zipping in the Turnbull Stakes.He was displaced after Alcopop ran second to So You Think in Saturday's Yalumba Stakes and put on the second line of betting with Herculian Prince.Waller made a flying visit from Sydney to Melbourne to watch Metal Bender gallop on Saturday morning and will do the sa
Metal Bender has slipped from Caulfield Cup favouritism but still holds sway with his trainer Chris Waller.
The triple Group One winner was elevated to the top of markets after his slashing fourth behind Zipping in the Turnbull Stakes.
He was displaced after Alcopop ran second to So You Think in Saturday's Yalumba Stakes and put on the second line of betting with Herculian Prince.
Waller made a flying visit from Sydney to Melbourne to watch Metal Bender gallop on Saturday morning and will do the same on Tuesday.
"He galloped two laps of the inside grass at Flemington on Saturday morning," Waller said.
"It was pleasing work - he picked it up over the second lap.
"I will go there on Tuesday and he will have his final piece of serious work.
"His preparation has been exactly as we wanted and I think we have ticked all the boxes for the Caulfield Cup."
Metal Bender's breeding and Waller's opinion say the five-year-old should run out the 2400 metres of the Caulfield Cup although his only attempt resulted in eighth place in the 2009 AJC Australian Derby won by Roman Emperor.
Waller is also confident his other runner Triple Honour can be stretched out to the distance and points to his Eagle Farm Cup win as the indicator.
"He ran out the 2200 metres of that race so I have every reason to think he can run 2400," Waller said.
Triple Honour holds number one billing in Waller's stable as his first Group One winner, taking out the 2008 Doncaster Handicap as a three-year-old.
His form since then until the winter of this year had been mixed but Triple Honour showed with his close third to Metal Bender in the Doomben Cup and his Group Two win in the Eagle Farm Cup he could still be competitive.
Triple Honour's four starts this spring have netted three placings and a fourth and Waller is hoping he can make his presence felt on Saturday.
"If he runs as well as we know he can, he can be right in it," he said.
Hugh Bowman takes the ride on Metal Bender while Larry Cassidy will be aboard Triple Honour.
The 18-horse field for the Caulfield Cup will be decided on Tuesday with Alcopop and Herculian Prince currently just outside the main draw but expected to make the cut with C'est La Guerre and Once Were Wild tipped to be non-starters.