Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
G1 Caulfield Cup - strong form lines
There is an interesting mixture of weight-for-age, set weight and penalties and handicap form amongst the 18 talented stayers contesting this year's G1 Caulfield Cup, the world's richest 2400-metre race run at handicap level.
Three runners come via runs in last weekend's weight-for-age G1 Caulfield S. including the tough all-the-way winner Deny Knowledge (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai) whilst another 10 contested the G1 Turnbull S. which is a set weights and penalties event.
Four of the Turnbull runners also ran in the G1 Underwood S. with one of those being the favourite Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock) who does look nicely primed for his second crack at the distance; his first a solid close up G1 Tancred S. fifth when not in the best part of the track.
Buckaroo (GB), the current favourite for the G1 Caulfield Cup | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The winner of that race is one of the Caulfield Cup's major weight-for-age winners, Kalapour (Ire) (War Command {USA}) who ended up too far back in the strung-out Caulfield S.; improvement expected from him up in trip.
Deny Knowledge's defeat of Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) last weekend certainly looks good Caulfield Cup form. She won the 2200-metre Country Oaks in memorable fashion by 10l in April last year and was dominate taking out the Listed Grafton Cup over 2350 metres in July. She does have a tricky gate to contend with but outside draws have not proven to be a major hinderance in this race in recent years (half of the last eight winners have drawn 11 or further out).
Should she succeed, it would be a first Caulfield Cup for jockey Craig Newitt and a second in a row for the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable who last year cheered home Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). And the Freedman family boasts a pretty decent history in this race.
As does Chris Waller who has trained two of the last four winners; Durston (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) in 2022 and Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) in 2020.
Chris Waller saddles up three runners in this year's G1 Caulfield Cup | Image courtesy of Sportpix
He saddles up three here, also hoping for a run for the third emergency Francesco Guardi (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Buckaroo is his major chance, and he also has Land Legend (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}) who attempts to become the first G1 Metropolitan H. winner since Tawqeet (USA) in 2006 to win the Cup and Valiant King (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}) who ran well without the best of luck when sixth last year.
He is joined by Duke De Sessa (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) as a 2023 contestant backing up for another crack (noting that the emergency Francesco Guardi was second last) with that horse in better form than he was when ninth last year.
Another imported galloper racing well is Eliyass (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), the G3 Kingston Town S. winner who was a tough on pace third in the Turnbull. Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) also comes through a good run in that race whilst the 4-year-old mares Coco Sun (The Autumn Sun) and Zardozi (Kingman {GB}) come here via differing paths; the former fifth in the Caulfield S. whilst the latter was a gutsy second in the Metropolitan.
Adding interest to the race are a couple of horses making their Australian debuts; the Japanese 6-year-old Warp Speed (Jpn) (Drefong {USA}) who has barrier 19 to contend with and Ciaron Maher-trained Sayedaty Sadaty (Ire) (Anodin {Ire}) who ran fifth (beaten 7.5l) in the G1 Epsom Derby won by City Of Troy (USA) (Justify {USA}) and third (of four) behind the G1 Melbourne Cup fancy Jan Brueghel (Ire) (Galileo) in the G3 Gordon S.
A variety of sire lines have been represented in recent times - Northern Dancer (Can) unsurprisingly the most prominent (including six Danehill {USA} line winners in the last two decades) whist Zabeel (NZ), Kingmambo (USA), Halo (USA), Native Dancer (USA), Klairon (Fr) and Grey Sovereign (GB) have also featured.
Danehill has four representatives as does Sadler's Wells (USA); the sire line which provided last year's winner.
The Everest - the $20 million dash
The first three home in last year's running of this young, rich contest, have again accepted to take their place. The 2023 winner Think About It (So You Think {NZ}) needs some luck to gain a run as emergency but assured of their places are last year's second and third home; I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) and Private Eye (Al Maher).
I Wish I Win was second-up last year, third-up this time around; and his form at that stage of his campaigns is excellent. Namely his two Group 1 victories; the TJ Smith S. and the Kingsford-Smith Cup.
Private Eye also has one more run under his belt than 12 months ago and this is his third Everest attempt; two years ago, finishing second to a horse who again calls a rival, the comeback galloper Giga Kick (Scissor Kick).
Giga Kick's form also ties in with I Wish I Win, as well as with the terrific mare Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) whilst I Am Me (I Am Invincible) and Stefi Magnetica (All Too Hard) have also been competitive with this group of high-class sprinters.
I Wish I Win (NZ), the current favourite for The Everest | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Two runnings of The Everest have been taken out by 3-year-olds; Yes Yes Yes in 2019 and Giga Kick two years ago and it is always interesting to see how they stack up against the older horses.
Four of that age take their place on Saturday, the filly Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) challenging the colts Storm Boy (Justify {USA}), Growing Empire (Zoustar) and Traffic Warden (Street Boss {USA}).
Zoustar is the only stallion represented by two certain runners and they are vying for favouritism; Growing Empire being very safe as is Joliestar (Zoustar). Her trainer Chris Waller already has two Everest trophies; cheering home Nature Strip (Nicconi) and Yes Yes Yes whilst her jockey James McDonald was aboard Nature Strip.
Five of this year's Everest runners are members of the Danehill line, one which has provided half of the race's winners to date.
G1 King Charles II S. - clash of the high class mares
First run under its new regal name last year, this race run as the G1 George Main S. from 1945 has attracted a strong group of weight-for-age gallopers vying for the $5 million on offer.
There is an exciting clash to take place; the best Victorian mare and the best New South Wales has to offer.
The freewheeling, oh so exciting Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) and the classy Fangirl (Sebring) who is always capable of charging home with smart sectionals.
The last time she ventured to Sydney, the Australian Horse of the Year Pride Of Jenni recorded one of the most memorable Group 1 victories of recent years; getting up that big lead in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S.
Pride Of Jenni, the current favourite for the G1 King Charles II S. at Randwick | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
A race which slots in well with this race given its name!
Fangirl already has the score on the board in regards to this race, racing away to an easy win last year.
And in second place was the horse whose form lines tie in with Pride Of Jenni; the grand galloper Mr Brightside.
Fangirl and Pride Of Jenni met in last spring's G1 Cantala S. at Flemington; Fangirl finishing off well from the rear to run fourth whilst it was a second big win at the track in a row for Pride Of Jenni who the week before had taken out the G1 Empire Rose S.
This is a race with a long history of having been won by high-class gallopers, those on its impressive honour roll including Shannon, Wenona Girl (Wilkes {Fr}), Kingston Town (Bletchingly), Emancipation (Bletchingly), Vo Rogue (Ivor Prince {USA}), Lonhro, More Joyous (NZ) (More Than Ready {NZ}), Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) and Anamoe.
The 3-year-old fillies - Ethereal S., Thousand Guineas Prelude, Reginald Allen S.
There is plenty of action for the 3-year-old fillies on Saturday with a couple of nice races at Caulfield and one at Randwick.
The first of the Caulfield races is the G3 Ethereal S.; a race named in honour of the 2001 G1 Caulfield Cup and G1 Melbourne Cup heroine and one which was first run in 2010.
Two of its winners have gone on to G1 VRC Oaks success; Pinot (Pierro) in 2017 and Set Square (Reset) in 2014 whilst last year's winner Autumn Angel (The Autumn Sun) did not progress to Flemington; but she did enjoy Classic success in this year's G1 ATC Oaks.
Too Darn Discreet, the current favourite for the G3 Etheral S. at Caulfield | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Also won, in 2018, by the mighty mare Verry Elleegant, the Ethereal sees the first and third home in the G2 Edward Manifold S. vying for favouritism; two nice daughters of Too Darn Hot (GB), Too Darn Discreet and Killcare Beachgirl.
The G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude, first run as a 1600-metre Listed race (the Heath S.) in 1983 (switched to the current 1400-metre seven years later), this race has been won on 10 occasions by fillies who have gone onto Group 1 success including four G1 Thousand Guineas (a race now run later in the spring) winners - Miss Finland (Redoute's Choice), Irish Lights (Fastnet Rock), Azzurro (Bluebird {USA}) and Bianco Flyer (Godswalk {USA}).
It's an even edition of the race with not a great deal between the major chances who have been finishing close to each other in the main lead-up races. The form from the G3 Champagne S. looks good with the subsequent G2 Schillaci S. victory recorded by its winner Bellatrix Star (Star Witness).
Second to her at Moonee Valley was Geegees Mistruth (Wordsmith) and third Tobeornottobe (Pierata) and also solid in that race were those finishing fourth and fifth; Zeitung (Exceed And Excel) and Matisse (Microphone). Ameena (Tassort) brings in the Sydney form.
Geegees Mistruth, the current favourite for the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Tamanian Racing Club
Whilst the other two are contested by fillies already proven in stakes company, the Listed Reginald Allen Quality is more a race for those still in the very early stages of their careers with none of this year's runners being stakes winners.
They have however shown talent, such as Winx's (Street Cry {Ire}) three-quarter sister Wings Of Desire (Pride Of Dubai) who comes back a little in trip having found some trouble in the G2 Edward Manifold S. and Hartnell's (GB) (Authorized {Ire}) half-sister Dominetta (Zoustar) who has won a Randwick trial since recording a dominant maiden victory at Warwick Farm.
Island Dec (Kermadec {NZ}) is yet to taste defeat whilst Ciaron Maher has a couple of nice chances with Jellicious (Snitzel) who has good form lines around her two seconds in strong maidens and Silver Wedding (Zoustar) who has found the line well at her first couple of starts.
Dominetta, the current favourite for the Listed Reginald Allen Quality | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Some very nice fillies have won this race including the mother and daughter pair Little Surfer Girl (Encosta De Lago) and Fangirl.
The mares - races named after three outstanding fillies; Alinghi, Tristarc, Angst
There is valuable black-type up for grabs for the mares on Saturday with feature races in Melbourne and Sydney.
The Listed Alinghi S. is the fifth race on the Caulfield program. A relatively new stakes race into its 13th year, it has been won on five occasions by mares who have gone onto further black-type success including the G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Mrs Onassis (General Nediym).
Lempicka (Rich Enuff) attempts to become the first dual winner of the race with challenges coming from Gumdrops (Written Tycoon) who is unbeaten second-up, Lazy Susan (Capitalist) who is on the up, Isthmus (I Am Invincible) who has impressed easily winning two in a row and Niance (NZ) (Swiss Ace) whose fresh record cannot be faulted.
Isthmus, the current favourite for the Listed Alinghi S. at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
The eighth race at Caulfield is the G3 Tristarc S., an 1100-metre race first run in 1987 which has on 11 occasions been won by mares who have gone onto Group 1 success - Camino Rose (Sea Road), More Joyous, Streama (Stratum), Red Tracer (Dane Shadow), Sweet Idea (Snitzel), Colette (Hallowed Crown), Reactive (Geiger Counter {USA}), Pernod (NZ) (Centaine), Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom {USA}), Bonanova (NZ) (Star Way {GB}) and the recently retired Chain Of Lightning (Fighting Sun).
Infinite Grace (Prince Of Birds {USA}) is the only two-time winner of the race, a feat being tackled by Wrote To Arataki (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}). Revolutionary Miss (Russian Revolution) also ran last year, out of the placings but in better form this time around. She defeated some nice mares in Group 2 company last time out with the second and third home in that race again taking her on; Miss Aria (Zoustar) and Skybird (Exosphere).
Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award) didn't relish the Heavy conditions last start and can bounce back and Plenty Of Ammo (Rebel Raider) really caught the eye with her strong finishing second against the boys last time out.
Despite having not won since taking out the G1 Surround S. in 2022, Hinged (Worthy Cause) is favourite for the G3 Angst S., looking nicely placed after taking on some of the country's best horses in recent times.
Lekvarte (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}), Good Banter (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and Quickster (Shamus Award) are also proven stakes performers, being taken on by some nice up-and-comers such as Zloties (Snitzel), Chica Mojito (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) and Watch My Girl (Maurice {Jpn}).
Skybird, the current favourite for the G2 Tristarc S. at Caulfield | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The sprinters - Gothic S., Millennium Sprint, Moonga S., The Kosciuszko, Sydney S., The Silver Eagle
There is plenty of action for fans of the sprinters on Saturday; Melbourne and Sydney racegoers afforded the opportunity to witness classy speed.
The Listed Gothic S. for 3-year-olds is the second race on the Caulfield card. Won last year by Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel {Ire}), it sees Reserve Bank (Capitalist) and Gallant Son (Written Tycoon) heavily favoured off game seconds at their most recent outings.
Gallant Son, the current favourite for the Listed Gothic S. at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
There is also plenty of winning form here, Aldolfito (Fastnet Rock) looking good winning his first two spaced outings, Stoli Bolli (Deep Field) pouncing late to claim Gallant Son at Moonee Valley whilst Lovelycut (Ilovethiscity) resumes having won both of her 2-year-old starts.
The G2 Millennium Sprint is another feature of the Caulfield Cup Day card. Registered as the Caulfield Sprint, it was won last year by the now Rosemont resident Doull and the year before by the successful globe-trotter Asfoora (Flying Artie).
There is Group 1 form here, Estriella (I Am Invincible) close up without the best of luck in the G1 Moir S. and the G1 Manikato S. at her two runs this time in. And Rey Magnerio (Magnus) was not far away in the G1 Oakleigh Plate which has proven to be a decent form reference.
Estriella, the current favourite for the G2 Millennium Sprint at Caulfield | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The main threat to those horses is Sans Doute (Not A Single Doubt) who is capable of recording very fast splits at the end of her races.
The final race at Caulfield is the the G3 Moonga S., a 1400-metre contest in which two horses are down in class having mixed it with the big guns; Pinstriped (Street Boss {USA}) defeating Mr Brightside in the G1 Memsie S. in which Gentleman Roy (So You Think {NZ}) was a brave third having won his previous three.
Two of the three sprinting events at Randwick are not stakes races but offer large prizemoney; The Kosciuszko which Front Page (Magnus) attempts to claim for a third consecutive year and The Silver Eagle which sees a set of classy 4-year-olds competing; such as Veight (Grunt {NZ}), Bases Loaded (Deep Field), Kimochi (Brave Smash {Jpn}) and Stretan Angel (Harry Angel {Ire}) as well as the in-form Ostraka (Pariah).
Front Page is looking to win The Kosciuszko at Ranwick for a third consecutive year | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The G3 Sydney S., won last year by Everest contender I Am Me, has Group 1 talent in the midst with the opening favourite being the last start G1 Manikato S. winner Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon) who is one of the four Everest emergencies amongst the acceptances.
Along with Overpass (Vancouver), Think About It and Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}); each of whom have the right credentials for this race.
