Caulfield Cup / Brad Thompson / 15 October 2010 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Brad Thompson feels Metal Bender will be at his peak for Saturday's $2.5million Caulfield Cup and that this will be Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman's chance to avenge last year's heartache aboard the well-fancied Roman Emperor.

For a fleeting moment, Bowman hit the front halfway down the straight in the rich 2400m handicap, but could only manage second behind ill-fated stable-mate Viewed.

But Bowman has his chance at redemption aboard second favourite Metal Bender in this year's edition of the Cup.

The three-time group 1 winner will benefit from the inside draw, and has an obvious affiliation with the Caulfield circuit.

Metal Bender finished hard for third behind superstar So You Think in the Underwood Stakes (1800m) on September 18 at Caulfield.

He then produced an eye-catcher behind Zipping in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) where he found room late in the straight to finish fourth, beaten by less than a length and a half.

Formerly trained by the late and great Jack Denham, the Danasinga five-year-old is now trained at Rosehill by Chris Waller.

Metal Bender has been in Melbourne for more than a month, with his two Victorian lead-ups holding him in good stead to score a fourth group 1 victory. He gives the impression he will have no problems staying the journey, despite just one run over the 2400m distance in the AJC Derby when eighth, but only beaten three lengths behind Roman Emperor.

With a heavy track rating likely at Caulfield, Metal Bender will have to prove he can get through the wet ground.

At two tries in the heavy going he has been beaten, but not by much.

It might just inflate his price on race-day to somewhere close to $8, which is great shopping.