Caulfield Race 9 – 17:15 AEDT
OPEN
2400m
$5,000,000.00
Good 4
Rail out 6m entire circuit
| Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Weight (kg) | Barrier | Current Price |
| 1. Best Solution | Saeed Bin Suroor | Pat Cosgrave | 57.5 | 17 | $15.00 |
| 2. The Cliffsofmoher | A P O’Brien | Hugh Bowman | 56.5 | 3 | $7.00 |
| 3. Chestnut Coat | Y Yahagi | Y Kawada | 55.5 | 13 | $19.00 |
| 4. Jon Snow | M Baker & A Forsman | Damian Lane | 55.5 | 15 | $41.00 |
| 5. Sound Check | Michael Moroney | Jordan Childs | 55.5 | 16 | $23.00 |
| 6. Ace High | David Payne | Damien Oliver | 55.0 | 8 | $11.00 |
| 7. The Taj Mahal | Liam Howley | James McDonald | 55.0 | 19 | $17.00 |
| 8. Duretto | A M Balding | Dwayne Dunn | 54.5 | 1 | $23.00 |
| 9. Red Verdon | Ed Dunlop | Zac Purton | 54.0 | 9 | $23.00 |
| 10. Vengeur Masque | Michael Moroney | Patrick Maloney | 54.0 | 7 | $91.00 |
| 11. Ventura Storm | D & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Regan Bayliss | 54.0 | 11 | $31.00 |
| 12. Mighty Boss | Mick Price | Tim Clark | 53.5 | 14 | $101.00 |
| 13. Homesman | Liam Howley | Ben Melham | 53.0 | 4 | $11.00 |
| 14. Kings Will Dream | Darren Weir | Craig Williams | 53.0 | 6 | $5.00 |
| 15. Sole Impact | H Toda | Ryusei Sakai | 53.0 | 20 | $51.00 |
| 16. Gallic Chieftain | Darren Weir | Dean Yendall | 52.5 | 2 | $46.00 |
| 17. Night’s Watch | Darren Weir | Ben Allen | 52.0 | 18 | $15.00 |
| 18. Youngstar | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 51.5 | 10 | $6.00 |
| E19. Patrick Erin | Chris Waller | Corey Brown | 52.0 | 12 | $41.00 |
| E20. Jaameh | D & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Cory Parish | 50.0 | 5 | $27.00 |
*Odds correct as of 12pm Thursday 18 October 2018
Prize money increases from $3 million to $5 million for the 2018 Caulfield Cup and it looks to be an intriguing affair this year. There are a good number of international raiders versus up and comers which makes it an intriguing race form wise.
The Caulfield Cup is one of Australia’s most prestigious races and is the first of the three ‘majors’ during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. Last year Boom Time took out the race at long odds. Other notable winners of the race include; Dunaden, Viewed, Northerly & Might And Power.
Key Runners
- Runner by Runner
- BEST SOLUTION ($15.00)
First run in Oz. Dual Group 1 winner in Germany over 2400m. Has a terrific record over the distance and has been in great form recently. Wide barrier makes it tricky
- THE CLIFFSOFMOHER ($7.00)
Made Oz debut last start in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes over 2000m. Closed well there and looks like will appreciate the jump to 2400m. Solid overseas form.
- CHESTNUT COAT ($19.00)
Japanese runner who has some solid form, including a narrow 2L loss in the Group 1 Tenno Sho. Decent record over 2400m, but perhaps suited over further.
- JON SNOW ($41.00)
Won 2017 ATC Derby and ran solid in this race last year for ninth. Form this prep has been decent, but don’t think it will be wet enough for this noted mudlark.
- SOUND CHECK ($23.00)
Making Oz debut here. Last start raced against Best Solution and finished 2nd by under half a length. That was his only run at 2400m. Might be better over further.
- ACE HIGH ($11.00)
Looks primed here coming off an impressive 2L victory in the Group 2 Hill Stakes. Has only had 2 runs at this distance for a win (Vic Derby) & 0.1L 2nd (ATC Derby). Might lack polish but looks suited.
- THE TAJ MAHAL ($17.00)
Last start winner of the Group 3 JRA Cup at Moonee Valley over 2040m. Was impressive over this distance last Spring including a 3.5L defeat over Almandin. Draws a very wide gate here.
- DURETTO ($23.00)
Making Oz debut. Was less than a length away from Best Solution two starts ago, before stepping up to 2900m and winning. Could be better over further.
- RED VERDON ($23.00)
Making Oz debut. Recently finished 1.25L ahead of The Cliffsofmoher who is well-fancied here – but was that a one off? Has a great record over this distance.
- VENGEUR MASQUE ($91.00)
Runs this prep have been okay but jumps up in class here and will find it tough.
- VENTURA STORM ($34.00)
Last Spring he looked like he could be a serious Cups contender after finishing just under 2L away from Winx, but failed to deliver. Form this prep solid, including a similar run to Kings Will Dream last start.
- MIGHTY BOSS ($101.00)
Won the Caulfield Guineas at $101 last year over 1600m but has failed to deliver much since then. Unraced beyond 2000m. Likely to get in the way.
- HOMESMAN ($11.00)
Won the Underwood Stakes over 1800m two back but was a little disappointing last start. Could control the race out in front, but question marks over whether he will be effective over 2400m.
- KINGS WILL DREAM ($5.00)
Irish import who won his first 5 starts in Oz. Has been favourite for this for a long time and has been set for this race. Only start over 2400m was a 5L demolition in the Mornington Cup. Was a touch disappointing last start when Ventura Storm nearly beat him home. Must respect.
- SOLE IMPACT ($51.00)
Making Oz debut here, 2nd Japanese runner in the field. Decent last start hit out over 2500m but draws widest barrier here and hasn’t won for 11 starts.
- GALLIC CHIEFTAIN ($46.00)
Nearly took out the Geelong Cup last year over the same distance but looks outclassed here. Was beaten 8L by Kings Will Dream in the Mornington Cup.
- NIGHT’S WATCH ($15.00)
Will be giving the leaders a head start but only has a light weight here. His win two back was impressive and 3.5L loss to Benbatl last start is solid form. Unraced at 2400m – this could be a very good thing, or a very bad thing…
- YOUNGSTAR ($6.00)
Was impressive last start when ‘nearly’ lowering the mighty mare Winx’s colours. Looks to be peaking here and has only 51.5kg. Unraced over 2400m and could be better with a bit of give in the ground. Current price looks short enough.
E19. PATRICK ERIN ($41.00)First emergency. Might find it tough to get a run in this capacity field but form has been okay leading into this including a last start win over this distance in The Metropolitan. Probably still outclassed.
E20. JAAMEH ($27.00)Second emergency. Will struggle to get into the race but looks suited if he does. Nearly beat the in-form Avilius which bodes well here. Has been solid in all six of his Australian runs.
Race Selection
- THE CLIFFSOFMOHER ($7.00)
Last start looked like a perfect hit out for the Caulfield Cup. He seemed to miss the initial sprint but once he got going he clocked the fastest 600m, 400m and 200m splits in the race. The jump to 2400m shouldn’t be an issue. Has some strong form overseas including a win over Yucatan who was impressive last start out in the Herbert Power.
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