Waller's Pinhole eyes Melbourne Cup path after Herbert Power Stakes success

Pinhole has secured a berth in the Caulfield Cup following his triumph in the Herbert Power Stakes, although trainer Chris Waller is leaning towards a different staying challenge for the imported galloper.

The four-year-old secured the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) on Saturday, with connections immediately setting their sights on the upcoming Caulfield Cup.

However, Waller suggested a more conservative strategy, aiming for the Melbourne Cup via a run in either the Geelong Cup, Moonee Valley Cup, or Bendigo Cup.

Sent out as the $3.70 favourite under jockey James McDonald, Pinhole crossed the line a short-half-head in front of Suntora ($26), with Knight's Choice ($7) a further short-head back in third.

Pinhole is eligible for a rehandicap for the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3. He currently has 51kg and is ranked 66th in the Order of Entry.

"I'll have a talk to the owners, but it is (the Caulfield Cup) unlikely," Waller said.

"The Caulfield Cup will be stronger than today, and the Melbourne Cup might see him improve going to two miles. Everyone wants to win Caulfield Cups, but whether you can is another story. If we can get to a Melbourne Cup, that might be a real fairytale story. We might try and find a path heading that way, but we will have to talk to the owners and the handicapper."

Acquired from the Tattersalls Sale in the UK last year, Pinhole undertook a campaign in Sydney during the autumn and winter, registering a win at Randwick in June.

This campaign, Pinhole resumed with a third over 1600m at Randwick before winning over 1800m at the same venue last month.

"One thing he was, he was good at the weights today," Waller commented.

"The set-weights and penalties were against him. He's ruined his benchmark, but he's proven himself as a set-weights and penalties style horse. It was an important day today for this horse's future and where he heads. The market got it right. I was surprised to see him one of the favourites in a set weights and penalties race as he was sort of out of his grade."

Waller noted that the most gratifying aspect of Pinhole's victory on Saturday was the horse's straight running in the home straight.

"In Sydney he wanted to lay in, and it almost cost him last start," Waller recalled.

"Going straight, here in Melbourne, was the most impressive thing to me."

With Pinhole's Caulfield Cup qualification secured, the focus shifts to potential future targets and the betting markets.

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