A bumper and capacity field will contest the Caulfield Cup worth $5 million, and there has is no shortage of storylines surrounding this year’s 2400-metre handicap.
It’ll be sunny with a top of 21 at Caulfield on Saturday, so conditions will be perfect for racing with the track expected to be a Good 4.
There was some doubt around last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip (1), and whether he’ll run in order to be saved for the Cox Plate next weekend, but it appears at this stage he’ll take his place.
Gold Trip was simply outstanding when winning the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes first up, finishing over the top of his rivals for a visually brilliant victory.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Without A Fight (2) will have plenty of admirers, and deservedly so. His two wins during the Brisbane Winter Carnival were superb, and he ran on hard without a heap of luck when resuming in the Turnbull.
He’s a horse that has a bit of x-factor, and a good turn-of-foot for a stayer.
The query is that Without A Fight had to undergo a vet’s examination on Friday after presenting with lameness in his leg. If he doesn’t pass the inspection, he’ll be scratched from the race.
Breakup (3) is a Japanese visitor, so on that fact alone he warrants plenty of respect. The Japanese-trained horses have a good record in the Caulfield Cup after Mer De Glace and Admire Rakti won the race in 2019 and 2014 respectively.
Montefilia (4) is a classy mare who knows how to win a Group 1. She was back to her best in Sydney last start.
Champion trainer Chris Waller will also saddle up Francesco Guardi (5) and Soulcombe (8) as well as Montefilia. The former is on track for the 3200 metres of the Melbourne Cup in just over two weeks, but he should be hitting the line hard here.
Waller is seemingly in Soulcombe’s camp based on his quotes earlier in the week.
“I think he’ll give them both (Cups) a good shake, 3200m is actually an extreme test, we’re not really sure until under race pressure how they cope with the two miles,” he said.
“Every indication it shouldn’t be a problem, 2400m he loves, so we should be starting to see something pretty special on Saturday.”
West Wind Blows (6) was enormous in the Turnbull Stakes off a wide run, still managing to beat all bar Gold Trip in that race. Importantly, he meets Gold Trip better at the weights for this assignment. Will it be enough to turn the tables?
Selections
2. Without A Fight
8. Soulcombe
6. West Wind Blows
3. Breakup
CAULFIELD CUP FINAL FIELD
Saddlecloth – Horse – Trainer – Jockey – Barrier – Weight
1. GOLD TRIP (FR) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, Ben Melham 11 58.5kg
2. WITHOUT A FIGHT (IRE) Anthony & Sam Freedman, Mark Zahra 7 55.5kg
3. BREAKUP (JPN) Tatsuya Yoshioka, Damian Lane 5 55kg
4. MONTEFILIA Chris Waller, Nash Rawiller 9 54.5kg
5. FRANCESCO GUARDI (IRE) Chris Waller, James McDonald 15 54kg
6. WEST WIND BLOWS (IRE) Simon & Ed Crisford, Jamie Spencer 2 54kg
7. NONCONFORMIST Grahame Begg, Harry Coffey 19 53.5kg
8. SOULCOMBE (GB) Chris Waller, Craig Williams 6 53.5kg
9. DUKE DE SESSA (IRE) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, John Allen 14 53kg
10. HOO YA MAL (GB) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, Tim Clark 8 53kg
11. RIGHT YOU ARE Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, Michael Dee 13 53kg
12. EMISSARY (GB) Michael Moroney, Jye McNeil 4 52kg
13. GOLDMAN (NZ) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, Linda Meech 18 52kg
14. OKITA SOUSHI (IRE) Joseph O’Brien, Kerrin McEvoy 12 51.5kg
15. FAME Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman, Craig Newitt 16 51kg
16. BOIS D’ARGENT (GB) Annabel Neasham, Winona Costin 3 50.5kg
17. SPIRIT RIDGE (GB) Annabel Neasham, Dean Yendall 10 50.5kg
18. VALIANT KING (GB) Joseph O’Brien, Jamie Kah 1 50kg
19e. UNITED NATIONS (IRE) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, Carleen Hefel (a) 17 50kg
CAULFIELD SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES AEDT)
Race 1: Lamaro’s Hotel Plate (1400m) – 12:15pm
Race 2: Neds Classic (Group 3 – 2000m) – 12:50pm
Race 3: Schweppes Ethereal Stakes (Group 3 – 2000m) – 1:25pm
Race 4: Gothic Stakes (Listed – 1200m) – 2pm
Race 5: Thousand Guineas Prelude (Group 2 – 1400m) – 2:35pm
Race 6: The McCafe Sprint (Group 2 – 1000m) – 3:15pm
Race 7: Tristarc Stakes (Group 2 – 1400m) – 3:50pm
Race 8: Moonga Stakes (Group 3 – 1400m) – 4:30pm
Race 9: Carlton Draught Caulfield Cup (Group 1 – 2400m) – 5:15pm
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