Caulfield Cup: Boom Time claims shock win at 33/1 as Aidan O'Brien's wait to equal Bobby Frankel's world record continues

The trainer was bidding to equal Bobby Frankel's world record of 25 Group One winners in a single season with Johannes Vermeer but the 10/3 favourite finished third in a frantic finish behind Boom Time and 25/1 shot Single Gaze.

O'Brien, who reached 23 Group One victories in 2001 and 2008, has a host of chances to get level - and indeed break - Frankel's 2003 mark at Ascot's Qipco British Champions Day, with the likes of Caravaggio (4/1 Champion Sprint), Hydrangea (13/2 Fillies & Mares), Churchill (7/2 QE II), Cliffs Of Moher (9/1 Champion Stakes) and Highland Reel (11/1 Champion Stakes) all in action.

Johannes Vermeer was beaten just a head in the Ladbrokes Stakes last Saturday and Ben Melham was happy to settle in the chasing pack as first Amelie Star and then Sir Isaac Newton took the field along.

Sir Isaac Newton, who was trained by O'Brien until this year, built up a healthy lead of 10 lengths with around five furlongs to run, but he was quickly reeled in before the top of the straight with Boom Time poised to challenge while Johannes Vermeer was on his heels.

When Cory Parish gave the signal, Boom Time kicked on with about a furlong to run but Johannes Vermeer could not quite follow him through, eventually finding a gap to narrowly lose out on second to Single Gaze.

Hughie Morrison's Melbourne Cup hope Marmelo ran an eyecatching race in the hands of Hugh Bowman, making up plenty of ground in the straight to finish just out of the frame.

Marmello is now 5/1 with Sky Bet from 14/1 for the Melbourne Cup while other market moves from this race are Single Gaze (33/1 from 150/1), Abbey Marie (33/1 from 50/1) and Boom Time (33/1 from 150/1).

Melham felt Johannes Vermeer stayed well enough on his step back up to 12 furlongs but felt his position in the race was not ideal.

He said: "He ran really well, he just took a step backwards as the barrier opened.

"I just wasn't quite happy with where we were and would have preferred to be a couple of spots closer in the run, but nevertheless he was in a good rhythm, he was breathing and relaxed.

"We just had to pick and weave through the corner, but he was really strong on the line."

Marmelo is now among the favourites for the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 7 after dead heating with Abbey Marie in sixth.

"It was an excellent performance and he's right on track for the Melbourne Cup," Bowman said.

Willie Mullins fielded Wicklow Brave but he failed to figure under Joao Moreira, who thought a slow start and trouble in running cost him as he could finish only 12th.

Moreira said: "His reaction was a little bit slow out of the gate and that made it a bit harder for him as he gave a head start to the others, but he was still able to get on the fence and save ground.

"Unfortunately I got a little bit of interference at the 600 metres (three furlongs) which cost him places."

Melham was suspended for a total of 12 meetings (October 21-November 1) after being found to have caused interference to Wicklow Brave while Kathy O'Hara, Ben Allen and Chad Schofield were also given suspensions of varying lengths following incidents in the race.

Bowman was fined $1,000 for weighing in more than 0.5kg over his declared riding weight.

Aidan O'Brien's Group One winners in 2017

Click on each race for the full result & video replay

Churchill (Qipco 2000 Guineas) Newmarket, May 6

Winter (Qipco 1000 Guineas) Newmarket, May 7

Churchill (Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas) Curragh, May 27

Winter (Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas) Curragh, May 28

Highland Reel (Investec Coronation Cup) Epsom, June 2

Wings Of Eagles (Investec Derby) Epsom, June 3

Highland Reel (Prince of Wales's Stakes) Ascot, June 21

Caravaggio (Commonwealth Cup) Ascot, June 23

Winter (Coronation Stakes) Ascot, June 23

Capri (Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby) Curragh, July 1

Roly Poly (Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes) Newmarket, July 14

Roly Poly (Prix Rothschild) Deauville, July 30

Winter (Qatar Nassau Stakes) Goodwood, August 3

Sioux Nation (Keeneland Phoenix Stakes) Curragh, August 13

Hydrangea (Coolmore Matron Stakes) Leopardstown, September 9

Happily (Moyglare Stud Stakes) Curragh, September 10

Order Of St George (Comer Group Irish St Leger) Curragh, September 10

Capri (William Hill St Leger) Doncaster, September 16

Clemmie (Juddmonte Cheveley Park) Newmarket, September 30

US Navy Flag (Juddmonte Middle Park) Newmarket, September 30

Happily (Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere) Chantilly, October 1

Rhododendron (Prix de l'Opera) Chantilly, October 1

Roly Poly (Sun Chariot Stakes) Newmarket, October 7

US Navy Flag (Darley Dewhurst Stakes) Newmarket, October 14

Aidan O'Brien's most prolific Group One winning horses in 2017

4 - Winter

3 - Roly Poly

2 - Churchill, Highland Reel, Happily, US Navy Flag, Capri

1 - Wings Of Eagles, Caravaggio, Sioux Nation, Hydrangea, Order Of St George, Clemmie, Rhododendron

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