The first of the “big three” Group 1 races that will be held over the next two and half weeks sees a field of eighteen with four emergencies taking part.
The field is headed by Melbourne Cup winners Americain and Dunedan and this will be the first time we see international visitors Jakkalberry and My Quest For Peace.
Early favourite is Metrop Handicap winner Glencadam Gold who will be looking to continue his undefeated run in Australia and, reverse the fortune of his Trainer Gai Waterhouse after last week’s loss of short priced favourites, Pierro and More Joyous. Caulfield Cup 2012
1. AMERICAIN – Gerald Mosse – (19)
French horse back with his original trainer A De Royer-Dupre after spending the Autumn under the care of David Hayes. Trainer has prepared the horse for five Australian starts, winning four of them including the 2010 Melbourne Cup. His last hit-out was nine weeks ago in the G2 Prix Kergorlay (3000m) where he finished sixth of seven (beaten 3.8). He produced a similar effort in that race last year before coming to Australia and winning the G2 Moonee Valley Cup in convincing style before running fourth (beaten 1.5) in last year’s Melbourne Cup. He’ll be getting a long way back from his draw but sure to be doing his best work late.
Odds: $21.00
2. DUNEDAN – C Williams (22)
Last year’s Melbourne Cup winner who has produced solid form in five runs since including a win in the G1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) and an unlucky second to Sea Moon in the G2 Hardwicke Stakes at Ascot in June. Trainer stated during the week that he feels the horse is going better than he was at this time last year but a horror draw will have mean he’ll have to be.
Odds: $8.50
3. JAKKALBERRY – C O’Donoghue (13)
This is our first look at this 7yo international runner who brings with him a record of ten wins from twenty-four starts – six of those wins coming in his first ten starts. Well accounted for behind Sea Moon, Dunedan and Red Cardeaux in the Hardwick Stakes (beaten 8.8) before, at his most recent start in August, comfortably claiming the St. Ledger at Hollywood Park in USA.
Odds: $21.00
4. WINCHESTER – J Mott (16)
This 8yo son of Theatrical (same sire as Melbourne Cup winner Media Puzzle) has had two starts for John Sadler, registering a ninth in the Underwood Stakes (1800m) and ninth again in the Turnball (2000m). He will appreciate the step up again in distance but hard to include him here off the back of his two Australian runs.
Odds: $34.00
5. DECEMBER DRAW – M Rodd – (12)
He started favourite in last year’s Caulfield Cup but finished a distanced last. We didn’t see him again until September of this year when he returned in the G2 Makybe Diva (1600m) and than ran third in both the traditional lead up races, the Underwood Stakes (beaten 1.5) and Turnball Stakes (beaten 1.7) behind Green Moon. Certainly has the form on the board to be should be in the mix here. Has firmed from $8 into $6
Odds: $6.50
6. VOILA ICI – V Duric – (17)
A former Italian galloper who has been under the care of leading trainer Peter Moody for three Australian starts, including a big effort to lead almost all of the way before finishing second to Ocean Park in the Underwood (1800m) and then led again when fourth (beaten 1.8) in the Turnball. Will no doubt roll forward to be leading or on pace but the last furlong at this class should test him.
Odds: $21.00
7. SOUTHERN SPEED – SCRATCHED
Odds: $21.00
8. SANAGAS – N Hall – (3)
A former American galloper now with the Bart Cummings yard who brought with him an impressive record of seven wins from eleven starts, including a convincing victory in the G1
Hollywood Cup (2414m). His Australian record however is extremely poor in comparison and he hasn’t raised connection’s hopes in the Memsie Stakes (13 of 15), Underwood Stakes (10 of 14) and Caulfield Stakes (last of six). Gets to the right distance and race conditions but will still need to improve.
Odds: $51.00
9. GLENCADAM GOLD – J Cassidy – (21)
The $4.50 favourite who kicked off his kicked off career with a very low key victory at a mid- week Canterbury meeting and continued to improve with every start since winning the Listed Premier’s Cup (1800m), Newcastle Cup (2300m) and at his last start, The G1 Metropolitan (2400m). Meets a better field here with significantly more depth and only one Metrop winner (Tawqeet 2006) has completed the double since 1983. Drawn poorly.
Odds: $4.80
10. MY QUEST FOR PEACE – C Brown (2)
Trainer Luca Cumani has the 5yo by Galileo has his representative in this year’s Cup and he brings with him winning form. He’s won his last two including – the Listed March Stakes (2816m) on the 25th August and prior to that, the G3 Glorious (2414m) beating Gatewood who was unlucky in the Herbert Power last weekend. Trainer has been a regular visitor to the Spring Carnival over the years with Purple Moon and Bauer – both placing in the Melbourne Cup, so he’ll know what kind of horse it’ll take.
Odds: $11.00
11. NIWOT – D Dunn – (6)
Tough one-batter who ran his best race of three runs in this prep with a 3.9 length eighth in the Turnball Stakes (2000m). His last two win have been in the G3 Lexus (2500m) this time last year and in April this year, won the Sydney Cup (3200m). Better suited to the handicap conditions of this race rather than his recent efforts at WFA but will find a few of these too classy.
Odds: $31.00
12. LIGHTS OF HEAVEN – L Nolan – (8)
5yo mare who put together a very good campaign over the Brisbane Winter carnival including successive wins in the G2 Eagle Farm Cup and G2 Brisbane Cup. Has had three runs since, the latest being a pleasing effort under 57kgs in the G2 Hill Stakes behind Lamasery, finishing second.
Odds: $9.00
13. SECRET ADMIRER – B Avdulla – (11)
Since winning the G1 Epsom Handicap last year, the Dubawi mare has raced a dozen times and despite not have registered a further win, has been placed in five G1 races. Her last start was a good effort in this year’s Epsom handicap when she finished well in a race dominated by those up on the pace, finishing fifth behind Fat Al, beaten 2 ¼ . It’s a big jump to this distance, which she’s untried at, from the mile of her last start.
Odds: $21.00
14. SNEAK A PEEK – G Boss (10)
Like his stable-mate Voila Ici, this 5yo is a former Italian galloper who has had three starts in Australia, with the most recent of them being a seventh in the Turnball Stakes (beaten 3.8). Had in interrupted run home last start and holds a record of one win from two starts over this trip. He mightn’t be the worst runner in the race at double figures.
Odds: $15.00
15. ALCOPOP – D Tourneur – (9)
8yo who started favourite in the 2009 Melbourne Cup and in his twenty starts since; he’s recorded two wins, those being the Kilmore Cup in February last year and more recently the Listed Penny Edition (1400m) in August of 2011. He’s had five runs in this prep and best of them was clearly his most recent effort, a fast finishing second behind Ocean Park in last week’s Caulfield Stakes. He’ll have to turn the clock back several years but seems to be peaking at the right time.
Odds: $15.00
16. MOUDRE – K McEvoy – (5)
Returned to racing in the G2 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) early last month after having been off the scene for almost a year and half with a cracking third (beaten 2.1) behind Manigher and Southern Speed. His only subsequent run however was a poor effort, finishing a well beaten last of sixteen in the Turnball Stakes. Not on last start.
Odds: $34.00
17. FOLDING GEAR – B Melham (4)
Hit form at his latest and third run in this preparation with a solid win in the G3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) just on a month ago. He’s got a fantastic record at this track (three wins from five starts) but never tested past 2000m or this grade.
Odds: $21.00
18. ZABEELIONAIRE – C Newitt – (1)
Four year old who won the SA Derby (2500m) last season. He’s had three runs in this prep (Makybe Diva, Underwood Stakes and Turnball Stakes) but has been well accounted for in each effort. This distance will help but probably and gets down in the weights but probably the right price at $40.00.
Odds: $26.00
19. SABRAGE (EM) – (20)
Winner of the G3 Norman Robinson Stakes as a three year old and back that up with a third placing in the VRC Derby however, has struggled to reproduce that form in eleven subsequent starts.
Odds: $151.00
20. GATEWOOD (EM) – (18)
Lightly raced 5yo who made his Australian debut last week in the G2 Herbert Power unfortunately though, he got caught in traffic and was shuffled back to near last on the turn and thereafter, never got the opportunity to open up.
Odds: $12.00
21. IBICENCO (EM) – (15)
Overseas runner trained by Luca Cumani and owned by the OTI Racing Syndicate (Bauer, Gatewood etc.) who arrives with a record of one win from ten career starts, that being a 3yo Open event at his second career start.
Odds: $151.00
22. FICTIONAL ACCOUNT (EM) – (7)
A further import, this one with local trainer David Hayes and who has had three start in Australia, the best clearly being his second placing in the Listed JRA (2500m) at Moonee Valley. Well beaten last start in the Metrop.
Odds: $201.00
OVERVIEW
Glencadam Gold and Voila Ici to roll forward from their wide gates. Although his last start win in the Metrop was against inferior opposition to today’s line-up, he did dominate them and his improvement at each of his four Australian starts has been substantial. He has a horror draw to overcome and whilst he appears to tick all the boxes but to take $4.50 in a Caulfield Cup, you have to be sure. Dunaden looked very good at track work this year and all reports from his camp have been positive. In eleven start this trip, has only missed a place once and at despite another who suffered at the barrier draw and has drifted from $6 – $8. Four a bit of value, the overseas visitor My Quest For Peace appears to have the right credentials and connections to be competitive and should be considered at the each-way odds of $12.00.
