The Listed Cranbourne Cup (2025m) provides the perfect encore to Caulfield Guineas Day on Sunday as a capacity field of stayers stake their claim for a share in the $400,000 prize money.
Grahame Begg’s talented four-year-old Nonconformist has been installed as the favourite with Ladbrokes bookmakers, while defending champ Dr Drill is next best with Craig Williams hoping to claim the honours for a third time.
With a handful of trainers eyeing tougher assignments later in the Spring, we’ve analysed each and every chance in our 2020 Cranbourne Cup tips below.
Trap For Fools
Trap For Fools went to the front first-up in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes before fading late for fifth behind Russian Camelot.
The Lindsey Smith-trained gelding has been charged with the top weight stepping back in class, and although he has won second-up previously, this does look a challenge for jockey Declan Bates from the wide draw.
Dr Drill
Dr Drill won the 2019 Cranbourne Cup as the $3 favourite last year under Craig Williams and now gets the in-form jock back in the saddle to defend his crown.
The six-year-old won the Listed Scone Cup over the mile back in May, but has since struggled for form running fifth in the Heatherlie and last of 16 in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes at Caulfield second-up.
He should appreciate stepping back in grade on Sunday and rates as a serious winning hope with strong wet form to his name.
Furrion
Furrion won the Listed Warrnambool Cup (2350m) over further back in May but has struggled to find the same form since returning to the races.
The six-year-old son of Camelot finished towards the back of the field in The Sofitel at Flemington first-up and showed no real improvement over the 1700m at Caulfield a fortnight ago.
He has won previously third-up and should appreciate getting out the 2000m, but looks a long shot at best from the wide draw.
Inverloch
Inverloch won the Listed Easter Cup over the 2000m at Caulfield back in April and could be worth an each-way shout on a potentially rain affected track.
The old boy looked in good order when fourth in The Sofitel first-up at Flemington before finding excuses over the 1700m at Caulfield last start from the wide draw.
He tends to take a few runs to warm up and is capable of running a big race if Michael Dee establishes a spot up forward.
Kentucky Breeze
Kentucky Breeze faces stronger company in his third run back from a spell after finding no luck in his previous two starts.
The son of Pierro hasn’t found the money since April and would need to improve enormously to feature here.
Plein Ciel
Plein Ciel is stepping back in grade after running second to Al Galayel in the Group 3 JRA Cup over a similar distance at Moonee Valley last month.
The German import should settle somewhere towards midfield from the soft draw and is certainly worth a look in exotics with decent wet form to his name.
Aristia
Aristia should find this much easier than her last start sixth in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes over the mile at Moonee Valley.
The daughter of Lonhro has run into he money four times previously on a soft track and looks a decent chance to add to that record if Damian Lane can offset the wide gate.
Princess Jenni
It’s been a while in between drinks for Princess Jenni since winning the Stocks Stakes at The Valley last year.
She’s found the placings in only one start since, but did show improvement when fifth in the same race a fortnight ago behind Mystic Journey.
The form from that contest reads well stepping back in grade and she does have each-way claims with race fitness on her side.
Nonconformist
Nonconformist has been installed as the Cranbourne Cup favourite with Ladbrokes bookmakers in what will be his third run back from a spell.
The son of Rebel Raider found the money first-up at Caulfield before finding excuses from the wide barrier over the 1700m second-up.
Grahame Begg’s four-year-old is two-from-three on soft ground and has won previously third-up. He’ll strip fitter for his latest effort and rates as one of the top chances.
Odeon
Odeon hasn’t found the winner’s stall since taking out the Listed Ladbrokes Lord Stakes at Caulfield last December.
He’s mixed his form since then and should be better for two runs behind the red-hot Junipal at Mooney Valley and Caulfield in his last two starts.
The New Zealander has run into the money on five occasions over this trip and appreciates the sting out of the ground.
Shot of Irish
Shot Of Irish went forward in his last start at Caulfield and wasn’t disgraced running second to Junipal.
He’s a two-time winner third-up and is another that enjoys racing on a rain-affected track.
Looks a contender on his home track and is only getting fitter.
Polly Grey
Polly Grey is making real headway towards her seventh career win and might just be a little over the odds at the current quote.
The New Zealander has finished no worse than fifth in each of her last five runs and tends to do her best racing with the sting out of the ground.
She has form lines around Caulfield Cup hopeful Orderofthegarter this prep and appears to be a decent each-way chance for champion trainer Chris Waller.
Future Score
Future Score is tough to have based on his first-up run when sixth among weaker company at Caulfield.
He should appreciate getting out over further but would need to improve significantly to beat home some of these.
Exasperate
Exasperate found the line for third behind Junipal in his last start at Caulfield but appears tested here up in grade.
He’s unproven beyond 1800m and looks set to struggle.
Tavirun
Tavirun showed plenty of class finishing second to High Emocean in the Listed Ansett Classic (2415m) at Mornington last month on a Heavy 8.
The step back to the 2000m looks good for him and the form certainly reads well for a place.
Tavirun has run no worse than fourth in each of his last five starts, although Damien Oliver does have some work to do after drawing the carpark.
Midterm
Midterm hasn’t won a race since November last year and is likely to find this well out of his reach as the first emergency.
Naivasha
Naivasha finished last in the Listed Ansett Classic at Mornington on the rain soaked track and remains the second emergency.
Don’t Doubt Dory
The lightly-raced Don’t Doubt Dory has won four from his seven starts to date, but should find this much tougher rising in grade as the third emergency.
Irish Flame
Irish Flame finished second to Saracen Knight a fortnight ago at Caulfield in weaker company.
The New Zealander has been racing well since arriving in Australia but this still looks a little beyond him.
Cranbourne Cup Tip
1 Trap For Fools at $19.00
