Great price for Esteem in Cantala Stakes

Stuart Webb cannot believe the price differential between a recent Group One quinella pairing facing off against each other at Flemington.

He’s Our Rokkii and the Webb-trained Great Esteem finished one-two in the Toorak Handicap at Caulfield on October 8 and on Saturday at Flemington they meet again in the Group One Cantala Stakes.

This time Great Esteem has a half-kilogram weight pull over He’s Our Rokkii for that long-neck defeat.

He’s Our Rokkii is the $7 second favourite behind The United States at $5.50 while Great Esteem is one of the outsiders at $51.

“There’s something like $45 between them in price for a long neck last time,” Webb said.

“That doesn’t seem right to me.

“I keep thinking he’s a horse out of his grade but I thought that before the Toorak and he came out and performed great.

“I’m stoked to have a horse that came down here to be a jumper that is now Group One placed and has won a Listed race along the way.”

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Great Esteem has drawn barrier 14 in Saturday’s 1600m-race which has a full field of 16 plus one emergency and what gives Webb heart is the gelding is the only natural leader in the race.

“Sometimes when you draw in you have to work to hold your position,” Webb said.

“He might be able to gradually get to where he needs to be and then take it from there.

“If there was four or so that were natural leaders you would almost think about not running as you know something is going to cut you up.

“But he’s in good form, he’s on the minimum which he appreciated in the Toorak, so we might as well have a throw at the stumps here.”

Chris Parnham takes the ride on Saturday and luckily for Webb the jockey will get the opportunity to rehydrate himself before the Cantala Stakes.

Parnham rides Whispering Brook at 49kg in the Myer Classic two races earlier while Great Esteem has 52kg.

“He’ll get some fluids back on board and won’t be too drawn out,” Webb said.