The tag of favourite sits well with Steven King as he prepares to ride Predatory Pricer in the Group One Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Saturday.
The 39-year-old has been there before, in fact he was on the Cup favourite Littorio which ran fifth last year, but there is something special about Predatory Pricer.
"I have been focused on Predatory Pricer for some time because he is my main ride for the spring," King said.
Predatory Pricer favourite for Caulfield Cup"The fact that he is favourite just means he has been doing a lot of things right and that is why I'm confident.
"Being in a smaller stable means I have really felt part of a team to get him this far.
"I have put a lot of work into this (race), so it will be really satisfying if we get the right result."
Predatory Pricer, trained by Paul Murray, was propelled to equal favourite with Vigor at $7 for the Caulfield Cup when Lee Freedman decided not to accept with Metropolitan winner Speed Gifted yesterday.
King, who won the Caulfield Cup on Let's Elope back in 1991, was impressed by the big four-year-old's work over 1600m on the course proper at Caulfield yesterday.
"We didn't have a mate to start with and he wasn't that keen to get going but when one of Anthony Cummings' (Rock To Rock) came around he hooked on to him and he was all right," King said.
"It was good work and he's right on target for Saturday."
Predatory Pricer earned his spot at the top of betting with the best weight-for-age form of the spring. He won the Liston Stakes (1400m) in August and has been placed in Group Ones at his past two runs.
He overraced but was able to hold on to third in the Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield before just being run down without blinkers in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) last time.
King had ridden him throughout his Melbourne campaign but had to watch from the stands as he was suspended for the Turnbull. However the second to Efficient filled him with confidence.
"The good thing about the Turnbull was that he settled without the blinkers and that had been a problem right throughout his preparation," King said.
"He was really getting fired up in the blinkers and overracing early on, which was making things tough for himself. So I told Paul to take them off (after the Underwood).
"To see him relax without them was a big plus and I think over 2400m that was the most important thing for him.
"If he can be nice and relaxed in the Cup he is going to be very hard to beat because he can take up any position and has showed he can really finish his races off."
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