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Caulfield Cup - Runner By Runner

Caulfield Cup - Runner By Runner

Protectionist

1 - PROTECTIONIST: Last year’s impressive Melbourne Cup-winner who has failed to recapture that form since. He has only had two runs over 2400m and further since for a 2.2-length fifth in The BMW and a well-beaten seventh in the Sydney Cup. He has beaten just four horses home in his three runs to date this campaign but was less than four lengths from the winner at his most recent start. Looking to emulate the likes of Viewed and Dunaden as horses to win the Melbourne Cup then Caulfield Cup but doesn’t seem as sharp as he was this time last year - Bren O’Brien

2 - SNOW SKY: One of the best-credentialled internationals to run in a Caulfield Cup. Disappointed last time out in the King George VI Stakes, but was super winning Group 2 races at his previous two starts, one of which was the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. First horse Sir Michael Stoute has brought to Australia in 10 years and four-time winner Damien Oliver has been booked to ride. Importantly, has drawn well in barrier three - Brad Bishop

3 - FAME GAME: Top quality Japanese galloper, who is twice winner of the Diamond Stakes (3400m) and was most recently runner-up in the Tenno Sho Spring in May. It’s hard not to be taken by that fast-finishing run but it was over the 3200m and the Melbourne Cup may be more to his liking than this race. Clearly has class on his side. Inside barrier an interesting proposition for a horse which tends to get back - Bren O’Brien

4 - OUR IVANHOWE: German import who has performed well in two lead-ups runs under 60kg and significantly drops to 56kg on Saturday. Did finish sixth in last year’s Japan Cup on a firm track, which, as confirmed by Admire Rakti last year, is good form for a Caulfield Cup. Trained by Anthony and Lee Freedman, the latter having won the race four times previously - Brad Bishop

5 - HOKKO BRAVE: Eight-year-old Japanese raider who has been racing in top level Japanese staying races for the past couple of years. Was placed in the 3200m Tenno Sho Spring in May 2014 and then ran sixth in the same race this year, beaten by Fame Game by around 1.5 lengths. Hasn’t won since October 2013. Has the services of Caulfield Cup-winning jockey Craig Williams but has drawn barrier 19, which will be 15 if the emergencies come out - Bren O’Brien

6 - MONGOLIAN KHAN: There are not too many boxes this Aussie-bred, Kiwi-trained four-year-old does not tick. Surged to favouritism with a slashing third placing in last week’s Caulfield Stakes, which followed an Underwood Stakes fourth and Makybe Diva Stakes seventh. Probably weighted right up to his best (55kg), but has drawn well in gate six (without emergencies) - Brad Bishop

7 - TRIP TO PARIS: Very well-credentialed British stayer who this year won the premium UK staying race, the Ascot Gold Cup. Subsequently ran third in the Goodwood Cup, before battling on a soft track in the Lonsdale Cup. Trainer Ed Dunlop has plenty of experience campaigning horses in this part of the world and he has the services of a top-flight Australian jockey in Tommy Berry from a good barrier (5). Only query is whether he has the turn of foot over 2400m - Bren O’Brien

8 - WHO SHOT THEBARMAN: Considered by most to be more of a Melbourne Cup type, but there’s a lot to like about the way the first of Chris Waller’s trio has been tracking towards this race. Just found them too sharp in the 2000m Turnbull, when he made a wide run from a long way out, but his last furlong was encouraging and finished just two lengths from winner Preferment. Unfortunately, drew poorly and will start from the second-widest alley - Brad Bishop

9 - GRAND MARSHAL: A long-priced Sydney Cup winner last campaign, Grand Marshal is a typically tough and consistent European-sourced Waller stayer. Has last two runs over 2000m have been good and the rise in distance will be suitable. Champion jockey Jim Cassidy takes the ride and he is drawn barrier six. Query is whether the 3200m of the Melbourne Cup will be more suitable - Bren O’Brien

10 - ROYAL DESCENT: Absolutely flying, but will need to be after drawing the outside gate. Beaten only by stablemate Preferment - who would be favourite if he ran here - in the Turnbull Stakes, which was her fourth top-three finish from four runs this time in. Ran fifth behind Fawkner in this race in 2013. Champion jockey Glen Boss retains the ride - Brad Bishop

11 - VOLKSTOK’N’BARRELL: A high quality three-year-old, who won the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas, Volkstok’n’barrell has yet to hit his best in four-year-old year. But his four runs this season, which have all been at Group 1 level, have all been solid and he has not been further than four lengths from the winner in any of those races. Drops to a nice weight of 53.5kg and gets a nice middle barrier which gives Craig Newitt options on how to ride him - Bren O’Brien

12 - HAURAKI: Sense of timing about this guy’s campaign. Finished a close second to stablemate Complacent in the Craven Plate and, as a son of Reset, should relish the rise to 2400m. The only time he has been at that trip previously was in the Australian Derby earlier this year when he finished within three-quarters of a length of Mongolian Khan, the pronounced favourite for this week’s race - Brad Bishop

13 - LUCIA VALENTINA: Ran a cracking race in this last year, coming from a long-way back to finish third, beaten less than a length. But she has placed just once in nine runs since and looks like she has lost a bit of form. Her campaign has been a little unorthodox with three runs, none of which have been more than 1600m. Cup-winning hoop Dwayne Dunn has a task from a wide barrier - Bren O’Brien

14 - RISING ROMANCE: Big chance to go one better than last year, when prepared by Donna Logan. Turnbull Stakes run was much better than it appeared on paper after travelling wide and two previous runs were both outstanding, including a narrow second in the Makybe Diva Stakes. Will start from gate two, much better than the barrier 14 she started from when second last year. Now trained by David Hayes and Tom Dabernig, who have been cleaning up this Carnival - Brad Bishop

15 - MAGICOOL: The Queensland Derby winner has struggled to get back to his best in his four-year--old season. His four runs at Group 1 level this campaign have seen him beat no more than a couple home and he goes into this race as the absolute outsider - Bren O’Brien

16 - GUST OF WIND: Going significantly better than her form suggests on face value. No luck in the straight in the Turnbull Stakes and had a similar hard-luck tale in the Makybe Diva Stakes. Only run over 2400m produced a dominant victory over Winx, who is one of the favourites for the Cox Plate. Will start from nine if the emergencies don’t start, which looks a nice draw - Brad Bishop

17 - SET SQUARE: Crown Oaks winner from last year who looks back to her best form in three runs back. She was narrowly beaten in mares company first-up, ran a decent race second-up and was then an unlucky third in the Turnbull Stakes at her most recent start. She drops to 51kg, and while Kerrin McEvoy has some thinking to do from barrier 16, she is versatile enough to race where needed - Bren O’Brien

18 - MAGNAPAL: Fairytale story who booked his spot with Naturalism Stakes victory last month. Since finished second in the JRA Cup at Moonee Valley, but this is a sharp rise in grade on both of those races and chances not helped by a wide draw (likely gate 14) - Brad Bishop

19 - QUEST FOR MORE: A consistent and highly-talented European galloper, Quest For More’s UK form reads very well when you consider he split Big Orange and Trip To Paris at his most recent start over 3200m and prior to that beat Max Dynamite in a handicap with a big field. Has been unplaced just once in his past 13 starts and has had five starts over 2400m for two wins and three placings. Over the odds if he gets a run - Bren O’Brien

20 - COMPLACENT: Been in outstanding form at first campaign in almost two years. Beat WFA stars Kermadec, Royal Descent and Pornichet over 1600m three runs back and last time out held off Hauraki - who is one of the leading fancies here - and meets him 1kg better at the weights. Huge show if he gets a run - Brad Bishop

21 - DIBAYANI: Former top quality Hong Kong galloper who has not done a great deal wrong since arriving in Australia. He has had three runs this campaign, for two thirds over 1400m and 1600m and a three-length ninth in the Underwood at WFA. Unlikely to get a run, but would give a good account of himself in this race if given the chance - Bren O’Brien

22 - MAGIC HURRICANE: Seemingly in a need of a miracle to get a run, but a key player if he does. Dominant last start in the Group 1 Metropolitan, defeating quality performer Beaten Up - Brad Bishop

View the 2015 Caulfield Cup field and comments by the 7Sports team

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Racing.com - Where Racing Lives
Click on the image to view the current Group One winners of the 2015 Spring Carnival.
Click on the image to view the current Group One winners of the 2015 Spring Carnival.