In-form jockey Michael Walker says rival So You Think is unbeatable in Saturday's Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington but is looking for a good run from his mount Ginga Dude.Walker, who will ride Zavite in his first Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, won the Group Three David Jones Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on Ginga Dude for New Zealand trainer Graeme Boyd on October 16.The Istidaad seven-year-old led all the way and bolted in by two lengths from Purple in the heavy going, leaving Walker and connections ruing
In-form jockey Michael Walker says rival So You Think is unbeatable in Saturday's Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington but is looking for a good run from his mount Ginga Dude.
Walker, who will ride Zavite in his first Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, won the Group Three David Jones Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on Ginga Dude for New Zealand trainer Graeme Boyd on October 16.
The Istidaad seven-year-old led all the way and bolted in by two lengths from Purple in the heavy going, leaving Walker and connections ruing the fact that the gelding had been balloted out of the Caulfield Cup on the same day.
Ginga Dude, the winner of 12 of his 34 starts, obviously won't be as well suited in a Group One weight-for-age event although he did finish second to Cox Plate also-ran Wall Street in the Group One Spring Classic (2040m) at Hastings at his previous start.
Walker is expected to adopt the same frontrunning tactics aboard Ginga Dude, especially after the Bart Cummings stable notified Racing Victoria stewards on Friday that So You Think would be ridden midfield with cover.
The dual Cox Plate winner and odds-on favourite is expected to give Cummings his 11th Mackinnon success.
And although he has eased in Melbourne Cup betting since his Cox Plate victory last Saturday from $3.20 to $5.50, one punter still thinks he can win and outlaid $10,000 on him to win the Cup at that price.
Michael Rodd isn't saying his mount, reigning Melbourne Cup winner and current $4.50 Cup favourite Shocking, can beat So You Think in the Mackinnon but believes he will at least push him.
"He's still pretty sharp. I worked him on Thursday morning and he gave me a great feel," Rodd said of Shocking.
"He's got such a good record at Flemington I wouldn't be surprised if he featured in the finish.
"But if So You Think runs up to his Cox Plate win he's going to be very hard to beat."
Centrebet reported that So You Think had firmed from $1.70 to $1.60 in the Mackinnon with a bet on him of $5000 at $1.60 and nothing backed to beat him.
Similarly, So You Think has been heavily supported with TAB Sportsbet from $1.70 to $1.60 after two bets of $5000, another of $3800 at $1.70 and a $20,000 wager at $1.65.
Shocking is regarded as the main danger at $7 with Shoot Out at $11, Caulfield Cup winner Descarado and Ginga Dude at $15 with Metal Bender next best at $18.