Jockey Nick Hall had no worries about declaring the Ciaron Maher-trained mare capable of completing the Caulfield Cup / Melbourne Cup double after her dominant victory in the first leg.
Trainer Ciaron Maher gave Jameka a flawless preparation for the Caulfield Cup but Hall had to do it tough to get down to her 52.5kg handicap, which is well below his usual weight range.
“I actually enjoyed the challenge. It played into my crazy a bit. I don’t mind it,” Hall said of the past week.
Hall needed plenty of time to replenish his fluids after his hard week wasting but the rider was strong enough when it counted, guiding the daughter of Myboycharlie to a three-length win as a $4.20 favourite, giving him his second win after he won the 2013 edition on Fawkner.
Hall said the 2016 Caulfield Cup field was below its usual standard, which increased his confidence in Jameka posting a third Group I win.
Jameka started from barrier 11 after scratchings. Hall said the gate decided the stable’s tactic to send her forward to race handy to the speed.
“I thought the way she’d been going, honestly, I thought we’d be outside the leader and just dominate that race,” Hall said.
“I thought there was a lot of dead weight for a Caulfield Cup and the decision was made for us with that draw that we had to go forward and we were going to be out of the crap there.”
The four-year-old threw her head around early but settled when Real Love worked around her to give her cover at the 2000m.
Jameka easily joined the leader Scottish on the home turn before racing away to beat the Godolphin runner comfortably while another international, Exospheric, was another three-quarters of a length away third.
“I was pretty confident on the turn. I couldn’t see any other horses but the way she was travelling for a 2400m horse, I had plenty in my hands at the 500(m),” Hall said.
Jameka can expect a significant Melbourne Cup penalty on Monday after her dominant win but Hall would have no issue if his mount had to carry more weight on the first Tuesday in November.
“It will just mean that I’m stronger,” Hall said.
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