Caulfield Cup: Timeform runner-by-runner guide

"Glencadam Gold faces a far stiffer test of his talents now but put himself right into contention with his dominant display in the Metropolitan..."

There's plenty of European interest in the G1 Caulfield Cup on Saturday (06:05 BST), but will any of the raiders prove successful? Find out what Timeform think...

Americain is a big, imposing stayer who has been below form since last spring but on the peak of his form isn't without a hope here. Can carry the weight but the wide draw makes it tough.

Dunaden was last years Melbourne Cup winner. Followed that win up with further success in the Hong Kong Vase and has been solid this season in Europe. Weighted to best form, however, and the barrier is tricky.

Jakkalberry took the first running of the American St Leger last time out, though the form isn't up to much. Best form gives him a rough hope here, though expect others have more upside.

Winchester has been back and finishing off late in both runs since joining this yard. Win over Gio Ponti the lone piece of form that gives him any look in with the weight he has. Prepared to risk.

December Draw's runs in the Underwood and Turnbull have been terrific leading up to this. Going better now than ever and has a perfect sense of timing about him. Big chance.

Voila Ici was twice a G1 winner in Europe and has been good in three runs since joining this yard. Will put himself on speed and give himself every chance, though, needs a new peak to pose a genuine winning threat.

Southern Speed was last years winner and is back to defend her crown. Had been racing well prior to last start when well below her best and that makes a tough task even more daunting now. NON RUNNER
Sanagas' three runs since joining this yard have been modest. Doesn't look up to this.

Glencadam Gold's record since coming to Australia and joining this yard is unblemished. Faces a far stiffer test of his talents now but put himself right into contention with his dominant display in the Metropolitan.

My Quest For Peace is lightly raced for the Luca Cumani yard who are always to be respected coming down under. Won his latest couple in good style and gets in with a winnable weight here. Good each way chance.

Niwot has been ticking over better than the form guide suggests. Doubt he could win here but the Turnbull run was good and he is one to keep an eye on for the two-miler at Flemington next time.

Lights of Heaven got back to a suitable trip last time in the Hill Stakes and gave a good sight. She will improve further here and has the form to give this a mighty big shake. Strong chance.

Secret Admirer is a classy mare who makes the jump to 2400m for this. Runs this campaign have all been good. Has the ability, the trip being the obvious and genuine query.

Sneak A Peek has been well held in three runs for this yard but has been coming along nicely. Expect he will be further improved here but he does have a bit to find on form.

Alcopop always seems to bob up and run a big race somewhere in the spring and he did that last week, running second in the Caulfield Stakes. In the mix on that form but he has to back it up now.

Moudre ran a big race first up from a long break but was unable to make an impression second up in the Turnbull. Can put that behind him but this should still prove too rich.

Folding Gear landed the Naturalism here last time out and earned himself a ticket into the race. Nice progressive horse who can run well here but has plenty to find on form. Doubt he could win it.

Zabeelionaire will be suited by getting back to handicaps but while he has been ticking over okay he still looks to have too much to do here. Inside draw unlikely to suit him either.

Sabrage hasb been going okay but is going to be looking for something easier. RESERVE

Gatewood is well weighted if he were to get a chance and would come under consideration. RESERVE

Ibicenco would only be a second-string for Cumani in this. Real staying type unlikely to be suited around Caulfield or at 2400m if he were to start. NON-RUNNER

Fictional Account is unlikely to get a start and surely finds others with more upside if she were to run. RESERVE

Timeform 1-2-3:
1. Glencadam Gold
2. December Draw
3. Lights of Heaven

Timeform View: Glencadam Gold is yet to put a foot wrong since joining this yard and is narrowly taken to follow up his Metropolitan win with further success here. It's a far tougher test of his talents though, with December Draw going better than ever in the Turnbull and looking set to improve again. Lights Of Heaven found form last time and her best gives her a big look at this, as it does My Quest For Peace.

Visit timeform.com to download your FREE Timeform card for Caulfield Cup Day. And remember, there will be live commentaries for all races on Timeform Radio.

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C. F. Orr Stakes: Black Caviar day at Caulfield

Australia / Gary Crispe / 08 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Black Caviar goes for win no.18 on Saturday

Unbeaten champion Black Caviar will face eight rivals in Saturday's $400,000 C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield (due off 04:50 GMT) when she goes for her 18th straight victory and her eighth at Group 1 level...

Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed is the notable opponent to Black Caviar in the C. F. Orr Stakes, along with G1 winners Efficient and Playing God.

Black Caviar's trainer Peter Moody, winner of the last two Orr Stakes (1400m) with Typhoon Tracy, will also be represented Doubtful Jack.

The Orr Stakes is the highlight of a card that also features two Blue Diamond Preludes.

Malasun is the headliner among the Prelude runners after the Mick Price-trained filly made a briulliant start to her career at Caulfield last month. She is the only two year-old still in contention to win the $1 million bonus associated with the Blue Diamond Series.

She will again clash with Member's Joy, owned by the Melbourne Racing Club Members' Horse Club. Members Joy, suffered her sole defeat when beaten by Malasun on Australia Day.

Patrons will be admitted free of charge to Saturday's meeting.

The Black Caviar theme will see Caulfield draped in salmon and black and her official Cheer Squad to travel en masse from Flinders Street Station on the "Black Caviar Express" to Caulfield.

Free Black Caviar flags and masks will be available upon entry, and patrons visiting a dedicated Black Caviar marquee will enjoy themed activities including a photo booth and autograph signings.

Retired champions residing at Living Legends Silent Witness and Apache Cat will also be paraded.

Top Australian jockey Kerrin McEvoy will team-up with Godolphin once more when he rides both Sepoy and Helmet on Dubai World Cup night......

Antipodean supermare Black Caviar notched her 17th straight victory with the minimum of fuss in the Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley....

All eyes will be on Moonee Valley on Friday when six rivals will take on Black Caviar in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (due off 09:15 GMT) as she attempts to stretch her unbeaten run to 17......

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Caulfield Cup News: Lucas Cranach suffers setback

Australia / Timeform / 12 October 2011 / Leave a Comment

Caulfield Racecourse

Caulfield Cup ante-post second favourite Lucas Cranach has emerged as a doubt for the big race after it was revealed that he is suffering from a foot abscess...

The ex-German trained Lucas Cranach, now in the care of Australian handler Anthony Freedman, was due to make his debut Down Under in the first leg of Melbourne's Spring Cup double after transferring from the Sascha Smrczek yard in Dusseldorf, but concern flourished after the horse emerged with heavy bandaging on a front leg.

Currently trading at [10.0], Lucas Cranach appeared to be one of the more interesting contenders, especially on the back of his most recent start when beaten five and three-quarter lengths into fifth by Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Danedream in the Grosser Preis von Berlin, when Lucas Cranach gave away 15 lb to the winner.

Connections have said that the problem is a minor one, and did not prevent the horse from working on Wednesday, but that he will undergo a veterinary examination on Friday.

Should he take his chance, Lucas Cranach looks to have been handed a favourable draw in stall three, whilst December Draw, currently trading as the [2.68] favourite, drew stall 11.

Three horses based in Britain are set to line up in Saturday's $2.5 million Caulfield Cup (due off 06:05 BST)......

Punters can forgive former Melbourne Cup favourite Lion Tamer for his flop in Saturday's Caulfield Stakes according to Betfair's highly-respected spring carnival form analyst Dominic Beirne, who expects the kiwi stayer will be at an absolute peak on Melbourne Cup day....

Australia's champion unbeaten race mare Black Caviar equalled the immortal Phar Lap's longest winning streak of 14 with a breath-taking victory in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on Saturday......

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Caulfield Cup Betting: Europe set to send strong raiding party

Timeform Features / Timeform / 31 August 2011 / Leave a Comment

Last year's Melbourne Cup winner Americain has been handed top-weight for the Caulfield Cup

"Of the home contingent, last year's winner Descarado once again lines up and is allotted a weight of 8-12, 8 lb higher than his mark last year."

The Caulfield Cup is set to take place on October 15 and Europe are sending a very strong team this year to try and capture the $2,500,000 race...

Last year's Melbourne Cup winner Americain was allotted top-weight of 9-02 for the Caulfield Cup on Tuesday afternoon in a race that may serve as a prep-run for the Alain de Royre Dupre trained six-year-old before he looks to defend his Flemington crown on November 1.

Americain produced a career-best to land the 2010 running of the Melbourne Cup, catching So You Think with a hundred and fifty yards to go, before drawing clear to score by two and a quarter lengths, earning himself a Timeform rating of 126.

Although he has been below his very best this season, finishing down the field in both the Prix Kergorlay and the Prix de Bababeville, he Melbourne Cup has always been his seasonal objective, a race for which he is currently available at [22]. Americain is currently uncertain to line-up in the Caulfield Cup, with the Cox Plate also being touted by connections as a possible prep-race for the November showpiece.

The British challenge for the Caulfield Cup is headed by Brian Meehan's Breeders' Cup winner Dangerous Midge (Timeform rated 125), set to carry 9-01. He has not been seen since disappointing in the Dubai Sheema Classic, where he finished last of 14 behind Rewilding back in March, but he has proven in the past he can go well when fresh and connections could decide to send him straight to Caulfield.

Michael Bell's Tactician (115) is another British entrant and stands to race off a weight of 8-05. The four-year-old has shown a decent amount of progression in his relatively short career and was at his very best last time out, when he produced a bold front-running display to finish second in the Ebor at York, collared only late on by another who could join him in Australia, Brian Ellison's Moyenne Corniche who could go for the Melbourne Cup.

Group 3 Glorious Stakes winner Drunken Sailor (121) also holds an entry at this stage and is currently priced at [55.0] on Betfair. The Luca Cumani trained six-year-old missed the cut for the Melbourne Cup last year but has looked better this season, winning the listed Aston Park Stakes by seven lengths before his Goodwood success.

The strong pace that the Caulfield Cup is often run at will suit Drunken Sailor, who is seen at his very best when held-up given such circumstances and he is notably entered and available to back at [55.0] for the Melbourne Cup, too.

Of the home contingent, last year's winner Descarado once again lines up and is allotted a weight of 8-12, 8 lb higher than his mark last year. He is currently available to be backed at [50.0], and is bidding to become the first horse to win back-to-back Caulfield Cups since Rising Fast did so in 1955.

Amongst the market principals are Lights of Heaven and Scarlett Lady, who are priced [9.2] and [11.5] respectively and arrive at Caulfield with every chance, having won over £500,000 between them already this season.

James Fanshawe holds a strong hand in Saturday's Haydock Sprint Cup, with Deacon Blues the current favourite and Society Rock also towards the head of the betting, but Timeform reckon the prize could be going back to another Newmarket yard as the race to be crowned Europe's Champion sprinter draws closer to a conclusion......

The news that Andre Fabre's Derby winner Pour Moi has been forced into retirement through injury this week means the market for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October has been thrown wide open. Timeform look at the main contenders for Europe's premier middle-distance contest......

There was some outstanding racing in the US, despite the intervention of Hurricane Irene. Simon Rowlands reveals the ratings to come out of it as well as out of some of the Group races in Europe....

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