Greg Cave is thrilled to be involved in his first Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic (1200m) and won’t be shocked if he can cause an upset on Saturday.
A former New Zealand jumps jockey, Cave harbours ambitions of landing his biggest prize as a trainer with Awesome Rock gelding Rock ‘N’ Tales.
In current Tabtouch markets, Rock ‘N’ Tales is rated a $26 chance, but Cave says a credible performance on debut has given him a shot of confidence.
Ridden by Shaun O’Donnell, Rock ‘N’ Tales settled last and swung wide on the turn, but finished strongly to finish fourth behind Saintorio.
Cave took a lot out of the run and hopes Rock ‘N’ Tales can be a factor in what he believes is an open edition of the Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic.
“Shaun (O’Donnell) said it was a very good run as it wasn’t really a race that suited him,” Cave told The Races WA.
“It was a muddling run race and from his gate he had to go back and ended up going three and four deep.
“But he still hit the line really good over 1200m and from that run it gives me a lot of confidence.
“He came home after that race and never batted an eyelid.
“He pulled up real good otherwise I wouldn’t have started him.
“He pulled up a million dollars and ate up everything good.
“This horse is going to get better in six months’ time, but where he’s at, I can’t knock him.
“He’s done everything right and I’ve got to give him a chance in it.
“He’s been over 1200m, didn’t have an easy race and still hit the line well.
“He did it the hard way.
“It’s exciting just to have a horse in the race and it’s exciting to see his progress from a yearling last year.”
Another key factor according to Greg Cave is an improved barrier draw.
After jumping from the second widest gate in a field of 10 starters on debut, Rock ‘N’ Tales has drawn perfectly in barrier five.
With O’Donnell on holidays, Troy Turner picks up the mount.
“I would like to see him three pairs back and one off the fence,” Cave said.
“Because he has a good stride on him he can get into the clear and get going.
“And Pinjarra should suit him as the straight is long enough.
“From the draw we have more than half a chance with a couple of the hot pots drawing out wider.
“We don’t have to work as hard and can be just tucked away quietly behind them.”
Based in Perth for just over a decade and two years since being granted his trainer’s license, Cave was a long-term employee of New Zealand horseman Graeme Rogerson.
Cave’s first Perth win came courtesy of Patristic, a Patronize gelding, who won a class five race at Northam in 2020.
