Bauer bags Geelong glory

Luca Cumani saddled his first winner in Australia as Bauer evoked memories of Media Puzzle by claiming the Geelong Cup.

The Dermot Weld-trained Media Puzzle won the Group Three race before going on to land the Melbourne Cup and Cumani’s five-year-old is now expected to attempt the double after easily accounting for Moatize and Magic Instinct.

“Well after that it’s such a relief and now he’s guaranteed a start with a penalty, I hope anyway. It’s such a thrill,” said Cumani’s daughter Francesca, who is overseeing the Melbourne preparations of Bauer and stablemate Mad Rush down under.

“It was a good effort, he travelled sweetly the whole way,” added jockey Damien Oliver, who also rode Media Puzzle.

“I asked him early in the straight and he extended well for me then. I left a little bit in the tank on the line.

“He probably wasn’t quite as impressive as Media Puzzle. He hit a rich vein of form that year,” he told www.racingvictoria.net.au.

A Melbourne Cup penalty for Bauer will be announced on Thursday and although Oliver is planning to stick with Caulfield Cup fourth Mad Rush in the November 4 feature, he thinks both hold sound claims.

“I think they’ll both run great races. They’re great stayers,” Oliver said.