2018 CAULFIELD CUP PREVIEW!
Posted: 18th Oct 2018
The $5 Million Group I Stella Artois CAULFIELD CUP will be ran this Saturday at Caulfield!
This year the race looks to be an even playing field with genuine strong chances from both the local connections and the international raiders from around the globe!
The BuyaRacehorse team have taken an early look at the final field and put together a runner-by-runner analysis to hope you try and find the winner!
BEST SOLUTION (17)
The master trainer Saeed Bin Suroor has the top-weight here and the 5 year old is in career best form winning his last 3 races, the Group II Princess of Wales at Newmarket and 2 Group I’s in Germany all over the Caulfield Cup distance of a mile and a half (2400m).
The team representing the Godolphin Blue took out the2008 Caulfield Cup with All The Good so they know what kind of horse it takes to win our premier 2400m Handicap!- TOP 5 CHANCE
The first of Lloyd Williams Trio, and looks to be possibly his best chance at taking home the cup! The son of Galileo comes over with some impressive European form. In May he beat stablemate Yucatan when taking out a Group II Race in Ireland.
His last race before coming over to Australia was a third to the unbeaten Roaring Lion (4 from 4- 3x Group I’s and 1 x Group II). We know he has settled in well with an impressive eye catcher flying home to Benbatl in some sizzling sectionals on Saturday in the Caulfield Stakes!
Both the back up and distance rise should suit this horse and expect the master Aidan O’Brien to have him cherry ripe for Saturday! – EACH WAY CHANCE
The first of 2 Japanese raiders contesting the cup! It is hard to line up the Japanese form,but we do know this guy beat the Darren Weir trained Tosen Basil in a Group II 2500m race back home.
The Son of Heart’s Cry then finished 2 lengths of the winner in the Group I Tenno Sho Spring over 3200m. My gut feeling is he is here for the Melbourne Cup, but have no doubt trainer Yoshito Yahagi will have the horse in pristine condition!- TOP TEN CHANCE
JON SNOW (15)
Jon Snow! I do have a lot of time for this horse and will most likely push forward and take a sit in the top 4. I just think he will be outclassed by some of the top liners at the business end of the race!- TOP TEN CHANCE IF THERE IS RAIN AROUND
This German import now with Michael Moroney can be tied in thru Best Solution after running 0.3 of a length off the Godolphin horse in the Group I Von Berlin at Germany in August. Sound Check meets him 2 Kilos better, so if you give the toppy a chance you must include this guy!- TOP TEN CHANCE
The 2017 VRC Derby Winner is flying! His last start 2 length win in the Group II Hill Stakes was Impressive!
He will relish every inch of the 2400m, shouldn’t have to do too much work from the gate to find a nice spot in the pointy end of the field and with Damien Oliver on top he will be given every chance to let down at the top of the straight and will be hard to get past! – TOP 5 CHANCE
THE TAJ MAHAL (19)
The Second of Lloyd Williams Trio! Interesting Horse The Taj, I keep going back to his Sandown Classic(2400m) win where he spanked Almandin!
He took over coming into the home straight to hit the front and kept powering to the line! He was ridden similar last start and look for him to be ridden the same again Saturday! If there is no pressure up front in the early stages, he is a serious contender!- TOP 5 CHANCE
DURETTO (1)
Another international raider and another with form around Best Solution. Hard to get a good gauge on his from although I think other horses will have his measure on the day.
Australian born and Hong Kong based sensation Zac Purton will come over to ride this 6 yr.old for Ed Dunlop. Back in June he beat The Cliffsofmoher at Royal Ascot in the Group II Hardwicke (2400m). His form seems to be mixed just below the top level in Europe, Interesting runner with a Sneaky chance!- TOP TEN CHANCE
A 7 yr. old gelding who seemed to peak on his run last start behind Avilius in the Group III Bart Cummings. Will take improvement out of that run but looks to be outclassed in this quality field.
Super keen on this guy to run a big race on Saturday! His preparation has been faultless.The son of Zoffany put in a lovely performance in his last lead up race when finished 1.85 lengths off Winx and on the heels of Youngstar (who is the $5.5 Favourite).
He should settle somewhere in the first half of the field, the rise in distance will be no issue and the Lindsay Park team would have left plenty in the tank for this guy to peak on the day! Look for a big improvement, great Each way chance!- EACH WAY CHANCE
MIGHTY BOSS (14)
Interesting to see the how the 2017 Caulfield Guineas winner measures up here. His form this prep has been ok with the camp confident he is an out and out stayer with this race always the target.
Hard to get excited about him but risk going against Mick Price when he sets one to peak on a certain day at your own peril!-TOP 15 CHANCE
Another one for the Lloyd Willams camp here in Homesman. I’m not convinced this son of WarFront is an out and out stayer. He has only won once past 200m in a maiden.
His run 2 starts back in the Underwood was that of a tough horse, however I am happy to let him go around purely from a distance point of view. – TOP 15 CHANCE
KINGS WILL DREAM (6)
The first of 3 runners for leading trainer Darren Weir, who looks to have beaten the handicapper with all his runners. This lightly raced gelding is a star!
Make no doubt about it, from 12 starts he has had 6 wind and 5 minor placings, the onetime he missed a place was first up this campaign over 1400m at Group II level and still finished 0.7 lengths off the winner.
Since winning the Mornington Cup and gaining automatic entry to the race, DK Weir has prepared this bloke down to the minute for Saturday. From Barrier 6, 53Kgs and Craig Williams on board, he will take a power of beating.-TOP 3 CHANCE
Form of late has not been the best for this son of champion sire Deep Impact. Although did finish 1.5 lengths from the winner last start at Group II level in Japan.
Tricky assignment for an apprentice jockey to navigate around Caulfield from Barrier 20. – PREFER OTHERS
GALLIC CHIEFTAIN (2)
Darren Weir and OTI Racing saddle up Gallic Chieftain here, the 6 yr. old’s form this time in has been reasonable with a close up second to The Taj Mahal 2 starts back then worked home well behind the impressive Yucatan on Saturday after being heavily backed.
Sure to derive fitness from his last run and looks to get a soft run with a light weight.- TOP TEN CHANCE
The last runner from the DK Weir barn who has been well placed this prep racing well in both handicaps and weight for age contests. He finished 3.4 lengths from Benbatl at his last run in the Group I Caulfield Stakes over 2000m and will drop 7kgs from the run this Saturday.
Barrier 18 makes it tricky and I feel he is just one level below the top liners, a light weight and a good ride could see him figure in the finish.- TOP TEN CHANCE
This High Chaparral Mare put in the perfect lead up run when running 1 length off the mighty mare Winx in the Group I Turnbull Stakes! Down to 51.5kg with Kerrin McEvoy on top, who in my opinion is the best jockey in Australia when it comes to staying races.
She has had an uninterrupted preparation in the hands of champion trainer Chris Waller and is in with a huge winning chance as the betting suggest!- TOP 5 CHANCE
Another one from the Waller stable who currently sits as first emergency. Showed a great turn of foot under the 51kgs to take out the Group I Metropolitan Stakes over 2400m at Royal Randwick at her latest run.
Form from that race has been franked with runner up Brimham Rocks running 2nd to Yucatan on Saturday in The Group II Herbert Power Stakes.
Sneaky light weight chance if he can gain a position in the field. –TOP TEN CHANCE
Very interesting runner! Beat all bar the airborne Avilius in The Group I Bart Cummings at Flemington, and almost won the race in the steward’s room afterwards!
Needs to gain a start, but if he does, with 50 kgs and the soft draw he has to be respected!- TOP TEN CHANCE.
TOP 5 MAJOR CONTENDERS
2 THE CLIFFSOFMOHER
6 ACE HIGH
7 THE TAJ MAHAL
11 VENTURA STORM
14 KINGS WILL DREAM
