Beau Mertens heads to Caulfield this weekend brimming with confidence after snaring a memorable treble on Cranbourne Cup Day, and he is now chasing another feature scalp.
Having guided Sabaj to victory in the Cranbourne Cup for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, Mertens is poised to link with Kovalica in the Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) at Caulfield.
Prepared by Chris Waller, Kovalica was taken to Caulfield on Tuesday for a hit-out to get accustomed to the tight-turning circuit ahead of Saturday’s staying test.
“He worked nice this morning,” Mertens said.
“He worked over 1400 (metres), a nice last two (furlongs, 400m) on the bridle. I gave him a little squeeze up at the top of the straight and I thought he went nicely under hand through the line.
“He seemed to get around Caulfield alright, and he seems in good form.
“I’m looking forward to Saturday.”
The jockey said Waller had tentatively earmarked him for two rides in the Zipping Classic, but after partnering Kovalica in his Tuesday morning gallop, he is hopeful that is the horse he will be legged aboard.
“I hope it’s him because he seems to be going pretty well,” Mertens said.
Mertens does not ride full-time for the Waller operation, but their partnership has yielded some big-race results when he has been called on during the spring.
He finished runner-up on River Of Stars in the Caulfield Cup before running a gallant fourth in the Melbourne Cup on the same mare.
“I’ve had a bit of luck with him,” Mertens said.
“I don’t do a lot for him, but I’ll come in a do some gallops.
“I’ll always be there for him, and he supported me with rides in the Melbourne and Caulfield Cup this year and I’ve had some success for him.
“Having three winners on Saturday didn’t do any harm and he’s got a lot of horses here and in Sydney and any time that you do get on they’re usually good horses well prepared and can head to a race and win.
“It’s a good stable to be a part of.”
Riding in such consistent form, including seven winners over the past seven days, has reinforced Mertens’ self-belief at a crucial stage of the season.
He said the Cranbourne Cup Day haul, highlighted by the hometown Cup triumph, meant a great deal.
“It was very big.,” Mertens said.
“A city treble, albeit at Cranbourne, it’s still on the board.
“To win a race like the Cranbourne Cup, I grew up there during my apprenticeship with Michael Kent and to ride it for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, it was fantastic.
“They’ve been big supporters of mine throughout my career and it does a lot for the confidence as well and hopefully we can build on that and keep going strong for the rest of the year.”
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