The most improved horse among Australian staying ranks has finally received a ringing Caulfield Cup endorsement from his stable as Smokin' Romans bids for one of the spring's signature races.
Master trainer Ciaron Maher concedes Smokin' Romans has confounded him twice in the past month, creating a spring detour that has catapulted the horse into clear-cut Caulfield Cup favouritism.
And Maher, who runs one of Australia's biggest stables in tandem with co-trainer David Eustace, agrees with bookmakers in suggesting Smokin' Romans is the one to beat in the $5 million race.
Maher trained Jameka to win the 2016 Caulfield Cup and says he is just as confident Smokin' Romans can deliver in the first leg of Melbourne's famous spring cups double.
"I wouldn't swap him for any other horse at this stage," Maher told RSN Sport.
"He has surprised me ... but after what he has done at his past two starts he's ended up in this position (as Cup favourite)."
Smokin' Romans earned Caulfield Cup favouritism after winning the Turnbull Stakes, a Group One race over 2000m at Flemington under a weight scale that was supposed to be against his chances.
But after making his own luck near the lead, Smokin' Romans underlined his emergence to draw clear for a decisive win.
Smokin' Romans could not be penalised for the victory and he meets well-performed stablemate and topweight Gold Trip on 7kg better terms for finishing almost two lengths ahead of the northern hemisphere import.
On old-fashioned weights and measures alone with 51.5kg, Smokin' Romans stands above his opposition.
The booking of leading jockey Jamie Kah, an inside barrier and a race that will be run on testing ground also point to Smokin' Romans completing a belated rise to the top.
In Gold Trip, Maher said the stable had a worthy back-up who is starting to blossom after after two recent runs in Melbourne.
"He is still on the way up and his class will come to the fore," Maher said.
"He has raced some of the world's best stayers over the trip and been very competitive."
Gold Trip underlined his quality when fourth in the 2020 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on a rain-affected track, and has twice figured in the placings at Group One level against Europe's best.
He is a $14 chance with Mark Zahra to ride, and is expected to join his stablemate in racing in the first half of the field.
