Hayes camp puts faith in Honour

Trainer Peter Hayes is hoping Court Of Honour will clinch selection in the Hong Kong International Cup with an impressive performance in the A$2.2 million Melbourne Cup (3,200 metres) at Flemington today.

'Obviously we'd like to win the Melbourne Cup with him but we would also like to run Court Of Honour in the International Cup, if we can,' Hayes said yesterday.

'If he can produce another good performance in the Cup, then I would think he'd have a very good chance of being chosen for the Hong Kong race.

'And, I must say I'm confident he'll be right there, because he's improving all the time.' After finishing a distant third behind Heart Ruler and Linesman in The Metropolitan (2,600 metres) at Randwick on October 6, Court Of Honour won the Moonee Valley Cup (2,500 metres) on October 26.

However, against that Court Of Honour rises 2kg (4.4 pounds) today while Linesman, who finished a half-length behind him, drops 5kg (11 pounds).

A six-year-old by Touching Wood, Linesman - who will be ridden by former Hong Kong-based jockey Larry Cassidy - is in the stables of Gai Waterhouse. After two placings - with Te Akau Nick in 1993 and Nothin' Leica Dane in 1995 - in the five years she has been training, Waterhouse will be endeavouring to become the first female trainer to win the Melbourne Cup. She believes she can achieve the feat.

'Linesman is going beautifully, he'll run the distance and he's so well weighted with only 52.5kg (115.7 pounds), that he must be one of the best chances in the race,' Waterhouse said.