We take a look at each of the runners in tomorrow’s Caulfield Cup including there trainer, jockey and breeding plus a small snippet about each horses chances.
Americain
Americain trained by Alain de Royer Dupre in France is the 2010 Melbourne Cup winner. He will be having his first start in Australia since the Autumn where he could be said to have been disappointing. Saturday’s Caulfield Cup will be his warm up race towards the Melbourne Cupso he will strip a lot fitter for the run. He is currently a $21 chance in the market.
Preview:
Trainer: Alain de Royer Dupre
Jockey: Gerald Mosse
Breeding: Dynaformer (USA) x America (IRE)
Prize money earned: $5,813,677
Form at 2400m: Eight starts for three wins, one second and one third.
Caulfield Cup Odds: $21
Caulfield Cup barrier: 19
Weight to be carried: 58kg
Dunaden
Dunaden won last years Melbourne Cup and returns to Australia for the first time since. Since his Melbourne Cup run he has won the Hong Kong Vase and placed in three other group races. Has drawn barrier 22 but will jump from barrier 19 with the emergencies not running. Was an early market favourite but has drifted substantially since the barrier draw. Will get back in running and hit the line strong, looks one of the major chances in an open field.
Preview:
Trainer: Mikel Delzangles
Jockey: Craig Williams
Breeding: Nicobar x La Marlia
Prize money earned: $5,435,611
Form at 2400m: Twelve starts for four wins, four seconds and three thirds.
Caulfield Cup Odds: $9
Caulfield Cup barrier: 22
Weight to be carried: 58kg
Jakkalberry
Italian galloper who is now with Australian Bloodstock has been brought over to Australia solely for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. Has a great record with ten wins from twenty four starts including a very impressive win in the American St Leger last start. Has drawn an okay barrier (13) and has been supported in betting being backed from $26 into $21.
Preview:
Trainer: Marco Botti
Jockey: Colm O’Donoghue
Breeding: Storming Home x Claba Di San Jore
Prize money earned: $1,557,283
Form at 2400m: Eleven starts for four wins and one third.
Caulfield Cup Odds: $21
Caulfield Cup barrier: 13
Weight to be carried: 55.5kg
Winchester
Former American galloper who is now trained by John Sadler. Has had two starts in Australia for two ninth placings in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes and Underwood Stakes which are the major lead up races into the Caulfield Cup. Will improve with the extra distance but you would think he would need to improve sharply to be in the finish of such a quality field that the Caulfield Cup has this year.
Preview:
Trainer: John Sadler
Jockey: Jamie Mott
Breeding: Theatrical x Rum Charger
Prize money earned: $1,746,235
Form at 2400m: Fifteen starts for three wins, two seconds and two thirds.
Caulfield Cup Odds: $31
Caulfield Cup barrier: 16
Weight to be carried: 55.5kg
Glencadam Gold
The current Caulfield Cup favourite trained by Gai Waterhouse. Has been unbeaten in Australia with four wins including a last start win in the Group 1 Metropolitan at Randwick racecourse. Comes to Melbourne for the first time but has been very impressive in all starts.
His chances took a hit when he drew barrier 21 on Wednesday but with the emergencies out he will come into barrier 17. Looks the horse to beat if he can get luck but it seems his will be determine by the first 200m, if Jim Cassidy can work some magic he is the one to beat if not its a tough race to be racing wide in just look at Green Moon last year it cost him the race.
Preview:
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse
Jockey: Jimmy Cassidy
Breeding: Refuse To Bend x Sandrella
Prize money earned: $474,028
Form at 2400m: Three starts for two wins.
Caulfield Cup Odds: $5.00
Caulfield Cup barrier: 21
Weight to be carried: 53.5kg
December Draw
Started as last years Caulfield Cup favourite before injuring himself during the race. Returned to racing in the Makybe Diva Stakes where he finished eight, improved a lot in the Underwood Stakes and again in the Turnbull Stakes. Seems like he has returned to last years form and has been getting better each run. Looks a big player in the Caulfield Cup this year. Punters havent missed him with his odds shortening from $8.50 into $6.50 and may hold favouritism by race time.
Preview:
Trainer: Mark Kavanagh
Jockey: Michael Rodd
Breeding: Medecis x New York
Prize money earned: $656,772
Form at 2400m: One start for no placings (Last years Caulfield Cup, injured during run)
Caulfield Cup Odds: $6.50
Caulfield Cup barrier: 12
Weight to be carried: 55kg
Voila Ici
Imported runner now trained by Peter Moody. Has had three starts in Australia with his best result coming in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes where he ran a very gallant second to Ocean Park. Looks the obvious leader in the field but may have to work too hard to get there from barrier 17. Wont miss the grey in the race and if he can get a soft lead could be the horse to steal the race. Has received a bit of speccing from punters with his odds shortening from $26 into $21.
Preview:
Trainer: Peter Moody
Jockey: Vlad Duric
Breeding: Daylami x Far Hope
Prize money earned: $1,725,792
Form at 2400m: Ten starts for four wins, one second and two thirds.
Caulfield Cup Odds: $21
Caulfield Cup barrier: 17
Weight to be carried: 55kg
Sneak A Peek
An Italian galloper who has been brought over to Australia to be trained by Peter Moody. Has had three starts in Australia heading into the Caulfield Cup where he has been good without standing out, looks to be ticking along nicely and could be a horse to improve enough to win the race on Saturday. Ran an unlucky 7th in the Turnbull Stakes where he should have finished closer and has been specced in betting. Definitely looks a danger in the race.
Preview:
Trainer: Peter Moody
Jockey: Glen Boss
Breeding: Doyen x Occhi Di Giada
Prize money earned: $295,759
Form at 2400m: Two starts for one win.
Caulfield Cup Odds: $17
Caulfield Cup barrier: 10
Weight to be carried: 53kg
Alcopop
The 2010 Melbourne Cup favourite who has struggled to regain his 2010 ten form in the past two years. Has had five starts this preparation the first four of which where all very mediocre but his last start was an eye catching second in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes. Obviously a very talented runner on his day but finding that day has proven to be difficult lately, not sure if last start was a once off but if it isn’t and he presses on from that run he is definitely a chance on Saturday.
Preview:
Trainer: Jake Stephens
Jockey: Dom Tourneur
Breeding: Jeune x Iota Of Luck
Prize money earned: $712,905
Form at 2400m: Two starts for one win.
Caulfield Cup Odds: $15
Caulfield Cup barrier: 9
Weight to be carried: 52.5kg
Southern Speed
Last years Caulfield Cup winner who looked like she was on track to defend her title until a very disappointing run last start in the Turnbull Stakes. Apart from last start she had been very impressive with a Listed win in Adelaide before coming to Melbourne to win the Makybe Diva Stakes. Looks a harder race this year and she will be carrying 4.5kg more. Will need a lot of things to go right if she is to figure in the finish.
Preview:
Trainer: L Macdonald & A Gluyas
Jockey: Nash Rawiller
Breeding: Southern Image x Golden Eagle
Prize money earned: $2,710,250
Form at 2400m: Two starts for one win.
Caulfield Cup Odds: $21
Caulfield Cup barrier: 14
Weight to be carried: 54.5kg
Folding Gear
A progressive galloper who has been making his way through the grades nicely. Has been thrown in the deep end on Saturday with a ballot exempt start in the race after winning the Naturalism Stakes. Has only had fourteen starts so there is room for improvement although i think the task ahead is too great and in a very good Caulfield Cup field he will need to improve a lot more than i think he can to be in the finish.
Preview:
Trainer: Lee & Shannon Hope
Jockey: Ben Melham
Breeding: Johar x Royal Show
Prize money earned: $353,353
Form at 2400m: Seven starts for three wins and two thirds.
Caulfield Cup Odds: $21
Caulfield Cup barrier: 4
Weight to be carried: 52kg
Zabeelionaire
A very well bred sone of Zabeel who will be having his fourth start this preparation. Drops four and a half kilos from his run in the Turnbull Stakes where he found trouble in the straight. Will get back in the race and from barrier 1 that could be a concern and some luck will be needed to get clear running. If the field spreads he could get a cheap rails run through the turn and he looks a horse the will be hitting the line strongly over the distance and with the lower weight. Looks a good long shot.
Preview:
Trainer: Leon Corstens
Jockey: Craig Newitt
Breeding: Zabeel x Kisumu
Prize money earned: $475,780
Form at 2400m: Unplaced at only start.
Caulfield Cup Odds: $31
Caulfield Cup barrier: 1
Weight to be carried: 52kg
Sanagas
Currently the roughest priced runner in the starting field. Trained by Bart Cummings which will obviously attract people to him but he hasn’t shown anything so far to say he could win this race outside of the fact that Bart has won the cups so many times and that he has stuck with him. Has had one start at the distance for one win but i doubt he could make it two from two on Saturday.
Preview:
Trainer: Bart Cummings
Jockey: Nicholas Hall
Breeding: Lomitas x Scota
Prize money earned: $288,845
Form at 2400m: One start for one win.
Caulfield Cup Odds: $51
Caulfield Cup barrier: 3
Weight to be carried: 54kg
My Quest For Peace
A relatively unknown runner in this years Caulfield Cup. Trained by regular Spring Carnival traveller Luca Cumani, My Quest For Peace has been racing in some top quality races in Europe and will be making his debut in Australia on Saturday. Drew barrier two which will give him a good run during the race but will need some luck coming around the final turn. If betting is to go by he is a massive chance in the race with his odds firming sharply in the last few days from $17 into $10.
Preview:
Trainer: Luca Cumani
Jockey: Corey Brown
Breeding: Galileo x Play Misty For Me
Prize money earned: $267,347
Form at 2400m: Seven starts for three wins and one second.
Caulfield Cup Odds: $10
Caulfield Cup barrier: 19
Weight to be carried: 58kg
Niwot
One of the only Australian born runners that will be contesting this years Caulfield Cup. Won the Sydney Cup at the start of the year and has returned with some okay runs in the Underwood Stakes and Turnbull Stakes. The extra distance will certainly suit him although this isnt his grand final race and will most likely still be under done. Has drawn barrier 6 which is a huge bonus but will go back anways. Look for him to be running on late into 4th-8th which will be a perfect lead up run for him into the Melbourne Cup.
Preview:
Trainer: M, W & J Hawkes
Jockey: Dwayne Dunn
Breeding: Galileo x Too Darn Hot
Prize money earned: $1,192,825
Form at 2400m: Three starts for one win.
Caulfield Cup Odds: $26
Caulfield Cup barrier: 6
Weight to be carried: 53.5kg
Lights Of Heaven
Another Australian runner trained by Peter Moody. Was very impressive last preparation over winter in Queensland where she won the Eagle Farm Cup and Brisbane Cup the latter being over the same ground as the Caulfield Cup (2400m). Returned this preparation in the Warwick Stakes where she ran 11th but improved immensely in the Hill Stakes last start when running third. Saturday’s Caulfield Cup will be her toughest test to date but going off the flood of money coming for her in betting she should figure in the finish.
Preview:
Trainer: Peter Moody
Jockey: Luke Nolen
Breeding: Zabeel x I’m In Heaven
Prize money earned:
Form at 2400m: One start for one win.
Caulfield Cup Odds: $9
Caulfield Cup barrier: 8
Weight to be carried: 53kg
Secret Admirer
Last years Epsom Handicap winner trained by Grahame Begg. She is a very consistant mare in which she rarely misses a placing but has not won in over a year. First up this preparation she ran well for a second in the Warwick Stakes and placed in her following two starts. Got back too far in this years Epsom and the tempo didn’t suit so she must be excused. Concerning that she hasn’t won in such a long time and that she is yet to be tried over the distance, the plus is that there looks like there will be a lot of early speed and if she runs the trip will have a better turn of foot than most of field in the final stages.
Preview:
Trainer: Grahame Begg
Jockey: Brenton Avdulla
Breeding: Dubawi x Secret Illusion
Prize money earned: $1,201,530
Form at 2400m: Untried at the distance.
Caulfield Cup Odds: $21
Caulfield Cup barrier: 11
Weight to be carried: 53kg
Moudre
One of the outsiders in the field she returned from a long spell in the Makybe Diva Stakes where she ran a very good third. Her next start was in the Turnbull Stakes where a quite few of the Caulfield Cup runners are coming out of but was very disappointing when running last but trainer Ciaron Maher has come out and said she jarred up during the run so you can put a line through that run. Drawn barrier 5 so she will get a good run in transit and definitely isnt the worst.
Preview:
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy
Breeding: Blevic x Tolkaami
Prize money earned: $558,450
Form at 2400m: Two starts for one second.
Caulfield Cup Odds: $41
Caulfield Cup barrier: 5
Weight to be carried: 52.5kg