Ciaron Maher could have as many as four runners in this year’s Caulfield Cup (2400m) as he looks to defend his crown, but the leading trainer admits several of his contenders are still sweating on a start — including a recent Group 1 winner.
Royal Supremacy’s spot in the field remains uncertain, with the gelding sitting close to the cut line and dependent on whether last year’s runner-up and topweight Buckaroo takes his place. The Metropolitan winner was elevated to 19th in order of entry after Changingoftheguard was withdrawn, leaving connections hoping that Chris Waller opts to bypass the Cup with Buckaroo, who ran third in last weekend’s The Might And Power.
Trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are also yet to make a call on Herbert Power Stakes winner Brayden Star, who holds a ballot exemption after his victory last Saturday.
Royal Supremacy has been one of the spring’s big improvers, having won three of his last four starts — the only miss being a runner-up finish in the Newcastle Cup (2300m). Maher believes the gelding continues to progress with each run. “I thought he would just win the Newcastle Cup, but it turns out the form from that is very good, and it all lined up in the Metrop,” Maher said. “He’s improving all the time. He grabs the bit and with each run he races better. He was quite strong on the line (in The Metropolitan).”
Further down the order of entry sits Berkshire Breeze, who could have blinkers reapplied if he gains a start. Stablemate Zardozi is also hoping to improve on her fourth placing in last year’s Caulfield Cup after three mixed runs this campaign — fifth in the So You Think Stakes (1500m), seventh in the Underwood Stakes (1800m) and 11th in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m).
“Her first run was good and you’d say her next two have been under (par),” Maher said. “Last week I expected more. I didn’t think she could win, but I expected more. I might just try some head gear on her, possibly. (In) a mile-and-a-half handicap, we’ll roll the dice with her. She used to pull and tug a bit, but she seems different now, so maybe the shades might be the key that she needs.”
Another Cup hopeful is Middle Earth, who will step up to 2400m for the first time in Australia. The former UK galloper, a Stakes winner over 2816m and placegetter in last year’s Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes (2414m), was slow away when finishing ninth in the Turnbull Stakes.
“He was a bit slow away the other day, which was not ideal, but I think he’s on track,” Maher said. “He’s never been to the mile and a half (2400m) since we’ve had him here, and he’s a mile-and-a-half-plus horse. He won’t be far away as a mile-and-a-half is certainly a lot different to those 2000-metre races he’s been running in.”
The final Caulfield Cup field will be confirmed on Wednesday morning, followed by the barrier draw at Caulfield racecourse. Punters can explore the latest odds and promotions for the Caulfield Cup via Australia’s best betting sites.
