It’s one of the biggest days on the Australian racing calendar and the 2018 Spring Carnival will hit fever pitch in Melbourne on Saturday for the Caulfield Cup.
The Caulfield Cup always draws a strong field, but this year’s edition is truly world-class and the locally-trained Kings Will Dream and Youngstar will line up alongside several international staying stars including Best Solution, The Cliffsofmoher and Chestnut Coat.
All ten races on Caulfield Cup Day have drawn quality fields and the action is set to begin with the running of a three-year-old fillies’ race at 12:15pm AEDT.
An open field of three-year-old fillies will step out for the first and there really is a case to be made for several runners. The Darren Weir-trained Delusions ($3.90) has only had the one career start to date but she was an impressive winner and looks good enough to fight out the finish of a race like this one. Zizzis is yet to show her best through two starts this time in but should be ready to peak third-up and is worth consideration at each-way odds ($9/$2.30 at the time of publish). The Sizzling filly recorded several good performances amongst tough company last time in and if she finds any of that form on Saturday, she’ll be tough to beat.
The Gothic Stakes has drawn a decent field of three-year-olds, but it really does look like Ranier’s race to lose. Ranier ($3.10) was only denied by bad luck when he was caught behind runners halfway up the straight at Flemington two weeks ago and he absolutely savaged the line when he was finally offered clear running late. Hugh Bowman can take a position closer to the pace from barrier 3 on Saturday and under these conditions, he should prove hard to hold out.
The Caulfield Sprint has tossed up a few incredible results in recent years including consecutive dead-heats, and this year’s field looks typically strong. Sarah Zschoke looks to have unearthed a talented gelding in the form of Eduardo and he is good enough to post a maiden black type win on Saturday. The five-year-old has only had four starts since debuting in June but has quickly stamped himself as a horse to follow and was unlucky to be pipped on the line by I Am Excited in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) a fortnight ago. He’s ready to peak third-up and will make all his own luck on-pace. There is a case to be made for both Quilista ($9.50) and Bons Away ($7) and both represent good value at each-way quotes. The latter is ready to peak third-up and could enjoy the run of the race from barrier 4.
A smart field of fillies and mares but a tough one to analyse from a betting perspective. Queensland raider From Within ($3.60) is seeking a fourth-consecutive and has opened the race favourite, but she is stepping up noticeably in class and I’d prefer to see her go around before taking a short quote. Soothing ($5.50) failed to fire last time out, but she was in scintillating form prior to that and I am happy to forgive the run. The Lonhro mare record three-consecutive wins when lightly raced through winter and into the spring and she’s drawn to get a beautiful run from barrier 4 on Saturday, with the added advantage of James McDonald in the saddle.
The Ethereal Stakes always tosses up a few live Oaks fillies and this year’s edition of the race looks wide open from a betting perspective. The Darren Weir-trained Verry Elleegant has opened race favourite and has continued to be backed into clear $2.50 favouritism. The Zed filly debuted in Australia for a credible third in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) two weeks ago and will appreciate the step up in trip. Greysful Glamour ($4) looks to be peaking in form at the right point of the carnival, while Scenic Sight ($19) could prove to be the value in the field after an impressive win over a mile at Ballarat last time out.
The Caulfield Classic has drawn a typically smart field of three-year-olds, but I am happy to follow the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Thinkin’ Big ($4.20) once more. Thinkin’ Big has enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence and made a successful transition to black type company when a dominant winner of the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) in late September. I’m happy to forgive what was still a decent run for third in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) last time out as he cast a plate on the way to the barriers and he represents terrific value to return to winning form here.
A terrific field of stayers will assemble for the Coongy Cup and there’s plenty of value to be found in betting, as a result. Trap For Fools ($5.50) has been racing extremely well since he transferred to the care of Jarrod McLean and will be hard to beat again in this race. The Poet’s Voice gelding put together consecutive wins in a pair of 2040m race at Moonee Valley in September and was last seen running well for fifth in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) behind Winx. This is obviously a step back in class and he’s rock-hard fit. There is legitimately a case to be made for close to every horse in this field, but Trap For Fools will be hard to run down.
The Caulfield Cup always draws a strong field, but this year’s edition is truly world class and we’re set for a terrific contest between some of Australia’s best stayers and a host of classy international raiders. Kings Will Dream and Youngstar currently share the top line of Caulfield Cup betting at $5.50 quotes, while internationals Best Solution ($14), The Cliffsofmoher ($6.50), Chestnut Coat ($19) and Duretto ($21) all have live claims. The Japanese horses have a terrific record in Australia’s big races and I’ll be happy to have something each-way on Chestnut Coat at his current price.
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These open mares races always draw open field and there’s plenty of value in Tristarc Stakes betting. Pretty much everything in this market is an each-way shot but I am leaning towards the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Prompt Response ($9), who should take plenty of benefit into her second-up assignment. Prompt Response recorded a number of top-class efforts and results through autumn and winter and ended her campaign with a maiden win at the highest level in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1350m). The daughter of Beneteau dropped the bit leading into the straight at Rosehill first-up and I am happy to forgive the run.
A potentially lucrative way to end Caulfield Cup Day from a betting perspective as there’s plenty of value around every horse in the Moonga Stakes field. Peaceful State ($4.40) was outstanding first-up and looks cut out for a race like the Moonga Stakes. The Animal Kingdom entire recorded several terrific performances and result in autumn and flew home on the rail to finish a close second in the Listed Bendigo Bank Stakes (1200m) when resuming this time. He was caught wide and tailed off in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) last time out, but he’ll strip fitter and with better luck will be fighting out the finish of this race.