3 minute read
Chris Scholtz takes a look at the Caulfield Cup plus selections for all races on the Caulfield program.
A soft track is looming with Melbourne receiving more than 20mm of rain through Friday with more to come. With the rail out 3 metres for the third meeting in seven days the middle lanes may be favoured.
Classy import BUCKAROO has been outstanding under weight for age conditions this spring and rates to win on a favourable soft track dropping to 54.5kg in a less than vintage field.
Landing in Australia just over 12 months ago as a proven Group performer up to 2000m, the 6YO son of Fastnet Rock was less than two lengths off the winner in the G1 Tancred at his only 2400m attempt last season. Subsequently gelded, his closing sectionals in the Chelmsford (won), Underwood (won) and Turnbull Stakes (2nd) in the last seven weeks suggest that he will have no issues over the Cup distance coming off what is certain to be a strong pace.
Expect the Sydney carnival form to stand up with the Metropolitan quinella LAND LEGEND and ZARDOZI sure to be in the finish if they hold their ratings from that 2400m race when only a nose separated them with a big gap to the rest. Oaks winner ZARDOZI loves soft tracks and is the weight horse meeting LAND LEGEND 3kg better.
LAND LEGEND, starting from the usually coveted rails barrier, also has to overcome a massive historical hurdle – no Caulfield Cup winner has started from barrier one since 1941! For the record 14 of the last 16 winners have started from gates 6 to 18.
Another import ELIYASS has the widest draw (20) in the capacity field but he underlined the quality of the Sydney form with his third in the Turnbull after three successive high rating wins in strong Listed and Group races at Randwick.
Veteran mare DENY KNOWLEDGE backs up from her upset Might And Power win over 2000m at Caulfield last Saturday. She's the one that has 'beaten the handicapper' as she could not be penalised and is sure to appreciate the big 6.5kg weight drop from WFA conditions to only 50.5kg.
It's notable that she has twice backed up within 10 days of a win and won the second start both times but she is now a 7YO mare and is likely to be under more pressure to command the pace like she did last Saturday. Six of the last 10 winners have been 4 or 5YOs.
Lightly raced 4YO WARMONGER started the spring among the Cup favourites but so far has not lived up to the expectations raised by his Queensland Derby win in June when he bolted home by 10 lengths on a Soft 6. It was one of the highest rating classic wins of recent seasons and a return to that form becomes a big possibility as he will appreciate getting out to 2400m on an affected track.
DUKE DE SESSA, YOUNG WERTHER and MURAMASA are others with the right credentials to include in extended exotics.
The wild cards are obviously the overseas pair WARP SPEED (always wary of the Japanese) and Ciaron Maher's new recruit SAYEDATY SADATY.
Proven Group performer WARP SPEED is a dour three time winner over 2400m while SAYEDATY SADATY finished fifth in City Of Troy's English Derby in June and has only 50kg. They rate well enough but their northern hemisphere form suggests they would prefer to be on top of the ground.
CAULFIELD CUP: (2) BUCKAROO; (13) Zardozi; (7) Eliyass; (6) Warmonger; (15) Deny Knowledge; (8) Land Legend; (10) Duke De Sessa
CAULFIELD October 19
For Value
RACE 4: (7) ALL KIND OF FOLK
RACE 6: (5) MATISSE
RACE 8: (9) MISS ARIA
Selections
RACE 1: (2) GETAFIX; (1) Sugar Coat; (4) Catoggio; (11) Taken
RACE 2: (6) RESERVE BANK; (4) Tarpaulin; (5) Stoli Bolli; (7) Gallant Son
RACE 3: (1) KEENELAND; (5) Scary; (2) Red Aces; (8) Kingofwallstreet
RACE 4: (7) ALL KINDS OF FOLK; (1) Too Darn Discreet; (5) Killcare Beachgirl; (3) Femminile
RACE 5: (10) NIANCE; (8) Isthmus; (5) Passeggiata; (2) Chinny Boom
RACE 6: (5) MATISSE; (6) Zeitung; (3) Geegee's Mistruth; (4) Too Darn Lizzie
RACE 7: (8) REY MAGNERIO; (1) Estriella; (2) Spacewalk; (6) Sans Doute
RACE 8: (9) MISS ARIA; (14) Plenty Of Ammo; (4) Skybird; (2) Revolutionary Miss
RACE 9: (2) BUCKAROO; (13) Zardozi; (7) Eliyass; (6) Warmonger
RACE 10: (2) GENTLEMAN ROY; (1) Pinstriped; (9) Coastwatch; (8) Ripcord
