CAULFIELD CUP 2020 PREVIEW
CAULFIELD RACE 9 – 17:15 AEDT
3YO+ OPEN
2400m
$3,000,000
SOFT 6 - HEAVY 8
Rail TRUE entire
| # | Form | Horse | Trainer | Jockey (barrier) | Weight (kg) | Current Price |
| 1 | x25x1 | ANTHONY VAN DYCK | A O'BRIEN | H BOWMAN (21) | 58.5 | $7.50 |
| 2 | 3x462 | AVILIUS | JAMES CUMMINGS | J ALLEN (17) | 57.0 | $29 |
| 3 | 95x90 | VOW AND DECLARE | D O'BRIEN | D OLIVER (18) | 57.0 | $34 |
| 4 | x2165 | BUCKHURST | J O'BRIEN | B MELHAM (9) | 55.0 | $11 |
| 5 | 3x741 | MIRAGE DANCER | T B & N YOUNG | C NEWITT (6) | 55.0 | $19 |
| 6 | 5x009 | MUSTAJEER | K LEES | W EGAN (15) | 55.0 | $91 |
| 7 | 2x141 | VERRY ELLEEGANT | C WALLER | M ZAHRA (11) | 55.0 | $5 |
| 8 | 9x114 | DASHING WILLOUGHBY | A BALDING | M WALKER (2) | 54.5 | $29 |
| 9 | 57x33 | FINCHE | C WALLER | D LANE (12) | 54.5 | $11 |
| 10 | x36x3 | PRINCE OF ARRAN | CHARLIE FELLOWES | JAMIE KAH (19) | 54.5 | $18 |
| 11 | 4x045 | MASTER OF WINE | M HAWKES | C WILLIAMS (7) | 53.5 | $7 |
| 12 | 2x187 | THE CHOSEN ONE | M B & A FORSMAN | D W STACKHOUSE (3) | 53.5 | $81 |
| 13 | 33x76 | WARNING | A & S FREEDMAN | L CURRIE (20) | 53.0 | $23 |
| 14 | x2354 | DALASAN | LEON MACDONALD & ANDREW GLUYAS | W PIKE (14) | 52.5 | $15 |
| 15 | 6x460 | TRUE SELF | W P MULLINS | D BATES (4) | 52.0 | $29 |
| 16 | 11x90 | AKTAU | M MORONEY | D MOOR (1) | 51.0 | |
| 17 | 1x582 | TOFFEE TONGUE | C WALLER | M J DEE (5) | 51.0 | $15 |
| 18 | 25x21 | CHAPADA | M MORONEY | J M NEIL (16) | 50.5 | $21 |
| 19 | 13x50 | RAHEEN HOUSE | K LEES | D MOOR (22) | 53.5 | $126 |
| 20 | x5138 | SAN HUBERTO | MATTHEW CUMANI | Fred W Kersley (10) | 53.5 | $81 |
| 21 | 1x000 | OCEANEX | M PRICE & M KENT | ZAC SPAIN (8) | 51.5 | $126 |
| 22 | x4431 | LE DON DE VIE | A & S FREEDMAN | 52.5 | $61 |
OVERVIEW
It’s been an unusual year, and that’s highlighted by the fact that of the first three “Majors” of the Melbourne Carnival this year, is the Caulfield Cup. Runners can generally come through the Cox Plate, but that will take place next week this year. This year’s edition looks set to be a cracker, and we got a good preview of what to expect from the Turnbull Stakes, with Verry Elleegant blousing them to get up by a narrow margin. Many of the same horses line up here again, but will we see a similar result?
SPEED MAP
Large field assembled here which as always makes the map tricky. The two frontrunners look obvious however, with Prince Of Arran and Finche likely to take up the running. Last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare should be prominent too from a wide gate. They start to bunch from here, and maybe Master Of Wine elects to push forward from an inside gate. Very Elleegant draws a middle gate and should sit around midfield but has options. Anthony Van Dyck draws the car park in gate 21 and will have his work cut out.
KEY RUNNERS
- VERRY ELLEEGANT ($5)
Has been one of the best middle distance horses in recent times, winning multiple Group 1 races in distances ranging from 1400m all the way up to 2400m. That’s a sign of an extremely talented horse and she looks primed here again after a strong win last start in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes. No doubt the class of the field and a deserving favourite here.
- FINCHE ($11)
Flies a little bit under the radar here, coming into the race with two narrow thirds, including a last start run where he raced wide without cover but fought on bravely to finish just 0.2 lengths away from Verry Elleegant. He maps brilliantly here and should face minimal pressure in front. He’ll have to lead them all the way, but he’s a genuine stayer and can certainly do so.
- DALASAN ($15)
Interesting runner here. He was highly touted heading into the Group 1 SA Derby last prep, but unfortunately came up against Russian Camelot, who has turned out to be a sensation this prep. It’s been a little different for Dalasan this prep, who is yet to win a race and went under at $1.40 at Morphettville second up. He’s hit back promisingly in his past two starts and was just 0.3 lengths off Verry Elleegant last start. Drops in weight here and certainly a chance at odds.
BLUEY’S PICK
- FINCHE ($11)
Verry Elleegant is no doubt the class of the race, but I’m siding with Finche, who looks to get all the favours out in front. He’s shown in the past that he is a genuine stayer, finishing just 1.4 lengths away in last year’s Melbourne Cup. I think he’ll be in front for a long way in the straight, whereas the others will need some luck. He looks a great value bet at double figure odds.
