King’s horse chasing Cup start at Geelong

Maher's preferred target is the Geelong Cup with the son of Fastnet Rock, but also has the Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) on Friday night as a back-up option should something go awry. 

Damaging winds are forecast for Geelong on Wednesday with anywhere between 4mm and 15mm of rain. 

The Geelong Cup has attracted 10 runners under handicap conditions while 14 gallopers have accepted at Moonee Valley, a set-weights with penalties contest. 

Besides Gilded Water, Changingoftheguard, Onesmoothoperator and Grand Pierro are acceptors for both races. 

Gilded Water, who is owned by His Majesty The King, needs to win on either Wednesday or Friday night to be assured of gaining a start in the Cup. 

Both races offer golden ticket entry into the year's Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) to be run at Flemington on Tuesday 4 November.

Gilded Water enters Wednesday's race having finished third in The Lexus Bart Cummings (2500m) on TAB Turnbull Stakes Day, when he got out with a long lead but was unable to hold off the fast-finishing Valiant King.

Maher has put a norton bit on the gelding while Declan Bates replaces Jamie Melham. 

"If the weather stays, he will run at Geelong," Maher said. 

"He's got no weight and looks well-weighted and he's in great order. 

"I've changed the bit on him. He has grabbed the bit in past, but I'm confident he will relax and run very well. 

"He's got that X-factor. I think he's the right horse, with no weight and hopefully we can sneak him into The Cup." 

Maher and his team have been bullish with Gilded Water's credentials heading towards the Melbourne Cup. 

"He's a big-strong horse, he's got the right form, and his only blemish was last start when he went a bit fast," Maher said. 

"He needs to win, because he's so far down the (entry) list and I think it's a good idea what they have done with the lead-up to the Cup (ballot exemption), but they usually get in." 

While Bates is a proven front-running rider through his association with another Maher trained runner in Pride Of Jenni, the trainer said Gilded Water does not have to lead on Wednesday. 

"Dec has got form on a front runner, but he's drawn four and hopefully he doesn't have to go out and lead," Maher said. 

Gilded Water heads the market at $2.20 ahead of last year's Geelong Cup winner Onesmoothoperator who is on a Lexus Melbourne Cup path once again.

All the winners and upcoming golden ticket race information can be found here.