The time-honoured Caulfield Cup headlines an enormous day of racing in Melbourne this weekend, and a world class field of stayers will seek their share in $5 million.
Incentivise has been nothing short of outstanding this spring, and the classy son of Shamus Award looms as the runner to beat in the 2021 Caulfield Cup despite having drawn the carpark.
Have I put him on top? Scroll down to my 2021 Caulfield Cup Tips to find out!
Caulfield Cup – Winner – No. 2 Incentivise
This race was earmarked by connections before the horse had even left Queensland, and I think that Incentivise will be the 2021 Caulfield Cup winner.
The Shamus Award gelding absolutely destroyed his rivals in his last few starts during the Brisbane Winter Carnival, and while there were plenty suggesting that he wasn’t up to Group 1 company when arriving in Melbourne, he silenced most of them with an impressive on-pace performance and win in the Makybe Diva.
He then silenced the few remaining doubters with even more dominant performance in the Turnbull Stakes last time, and he has reportedly only improved for that hit-out.
A mile and a half suits, and with clear passage to the lead, he’ll be in this for a long way as well.
Caulfield Cup – 2nd – No. 16 Nonconformist
He beat home Zaaki and was only just denied in the Neds Might And Power Stakes last weekend, and I think that Nonconformist can and will run another big race on the short back up.
The Rebel Raider gelding has been a good horse for Graeme Begg’s yard throughout his career, but he really does look to have gone to another level this time, and he recorded an impressive victory in the Naturalism Stakes two starts back, which ensured passage into this contest.
He is at peak fitness for the Caulfield Cup, gets in with no weight on his back and Craig Williams takes the ride.
Caulfield Cup – 3rd – No. 10 Delphi
Another horse on the short back up in the 2021 Caulfield Cup field is Delphi, who really stamped himself as one to watch last weekend.
Delphi has continued to improve with each of his three starts back this time, and he was only narrowly denied by Nonconfirmist in the Naturalism, but put paid to them in the Neds Herbert Power last week.
I personally think that he’ll be peaking over 3200m on the first Tuesday of November, but I also can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish of the Caulfield Cup as well.
Caulfield Cup – 4th – No. 12 Montefilia
Montefilia takes her place in the Caulfield Cup field following an outstanding performance and win in The Metropolitan, and I have no doubt that she’ll lay a great account for herself once more.
The Kermadec filly was one of the standout three-year-olds of last year’s Spring Carnival, and won both the Flight Stakes and the Spring Champion Stakes most notably.
She continued to race well through autumn without adding to her CV, but she has recaptured some of her best this time and it has already paid dividends.
Whatever she does in the Caulfield Cup is a bonus on what she has already achieved, but she does boast a class edge over a lot of her rivals and I think we’ll see her in the finish.
Caulfield Cup Suggested Bets
- 5 Units straight out #2 Incentivise
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections below