Boom Time’s Cup price has Hayes puzzled

Trainer David Hayes is looking to Boom Time to complete the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double.

Lindsay Park co-trainer David Hayes is bemused with the Melbourne Cup price of Boom Time.

The surprise winner of last month’s Caulfield Cup is a $26 chance in latest betting for Tuesday’s race.

Hayes reasons the Caulfield Cup form is strong for the Flemington showpiece in which Lindsay Park also saddles up Ventura Storm.

“Boom Time’s a Caulfield Cup winner with no weight and the horse that ran third (Johannes Vermeer) is one of the favourites,” Hayes said.

“I’ve always thought Ventura Storm was the best, but obvious form is good form and he (Boom Time) is a Caulfield Cup winner.

“He’s the longest priced Caulfield Cup winner to run in the Melbourne Cup so rather than take exception to it, we’ll embrace it and try and capitalise on it.”

Hayes doesn’t see the extra 800m of Tuesday’s race being a concern for the gelding who is bred for short course racing.

“He’s bred to run 900 metres but I’m not worried about the breeding,” Hayes said.

“It was a hard Caulfield Cup run and he was strong and sometimes you look past the obvious.

“I know he’s not bred to (stay) but breeding means nothing if you’re proven at a mile-and-a-half.”

Ventura Storm has overcome a bruised heel suffered when 13th to his stablemate in the Caulfield Cup.

Lindsay Park has adjusted the stayer’s shoeing and Hayes thinks the Flemington track will be more forgiving than Caulfield.

And with more work since Caulfield Hayes thinks Ventura Storm will be competitive.

“The Caulfield Cup was a hard run and I had kept him fresh for it,” Hayes said.

“On the day I thought I might have mucked it up and had him a bit underdone trying to make him sharper.

“I think with that good mile-and-a-half run and a lot of work since, trained European style, he’s responded well.”