A clip and a chat for Cup fancy Mahler31/10/2007 7:05 PMBy Mike Hedge
Ireland's remaining Melbourne Cup prospect Mahler has been booked in for a haircut and some counselling in a bid to have him at his best for next Tuesday's big race.
Mahler's trainer Aidan O'Brien saw the horse in action for the first time in two weeks at Sandown and later demonstrated the attention to detail that has made him Ireland's - and the world's - leading trainer.
O'Brien wasn't entirely happy with Mahler's progress and was especially concerned at the horse's inability to relax.
The horse also sweated profusely after performing only light work, prompting O'Brien to order the clipping of the winter coat he'd started to grow before leaving home.
"He was a bit anxious and a bit hairy," he said.
"So we'll clip him for the hairy part.
"And over the next few days we might get a vibe that he's going the right way and it's starting to come together.
"We've only got a short time to do it, so we'll see."
Mahler went through his usual routine of two short canters with O'Brien beside him every step of the way in a car.
From his close quarters the trainer decided the horse's major problem was anxiety - a condition he is now likely to be sharing with the punters who backed him last week from $26 to $11.
Part of the problem, O'Brien said, may be that Mahler's exercise companion Scorpion no longer joins him for trackwork after being injured earlier this week.
"He had a lead horse and now he's gone. That could have caused him a bit of anxiety today," O'Brien said.
"He just took a little bit more out of himself than he should have.
"You want to see him relaxing and just chilling out a little bit."
O'Brien will introduce Mahler's jockey Stephen Baster to him on Thursday, but he won't let the pair become too well acquainted.
Baster probably won't ride the horse until Cup day, just in case another change of routine is too much for the horse.
"He will sit in with us and just chat and talk," O'Brien said.
"The reason we don't want Stephen to ride him is that the horse has a good bit to overcome at the moment.
"But we'd like Stephen to see him."
The other internationals, Purple Moon and Tungsten Strike, both had gentle workouts at Sandown today and along with Mahler they are likely to do their final Cup gallops on Friday.
Mahler is now third favourite for the Melbourne Cup at $9 with TAB Sportsbet which has Caulfield Cup winner Master O'Reilly at the top of the market at $4.50 and Purple Moon at $7.50.
Source: AAP