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Japanese topweight Admire Ratki has stormed home to win the 2014 Caulfield Cup ahead of New Zealand pair Rising Romance and Lucia Valentina.
It was an impressive late run down the outside to take the $3 million race, and further signals Japan’s arrival at Australia’s biggest meets.
A huge run also came from Lucia Valentina, who just got too far back but, all honours go to the winner. Expect 18 Japanese horses to come next year!
1ST – ADMIRE RATKI
2ND – RISING ROMANCE
3RD – LUCIA VALENTINA
4TH – BRAMBLES
The Caulfield Cup (2400m, Group 1, handicap) is the richest 2400m handicap in the world, bringing together horses from around the world. Join us for our live blog for all the build up to the 5:40pm race time.
The rail is in its customary six-metre position for Cup Day, however it remained true on Wednesday, meaning leaders may have an advantage early in the day before the swoopers start having an impact.
Four horses were scratched on Thursday and Friday, which has changed the market dramatically. Lucia Valentina has retained favouritism and is looking to become the first mare to win the race since Southern Speed.
The speed is always hot with the short 300m run to the first turn. Bande was expected lead, but his scratching poses a few questions in terms of the pace. Expect Junoob, Rising Romance and Big Memory to cross from wide draws with Brambles and Seismos tucking in behind them. Lloyd Williams has also informed stewards that Sea Moon will push forward along with Green Moon if he jumps cleanly.
The Turnbull Stakes is the key lead-up to the Caulfield Cup, which was won in fine style by Lucia Valentina. She recovered from a slight setback earlier in the week and was one of the few backmarkers to make ground. The Peter Moody pair, Lidari and Brambles, battled on well from on the pace and have drawn well. Note the first three home carried light weights and were suited by the set-weights and penalties conditions.
Of the others, Hawkspur worked home solidly (his best runs have all been on-pace) as did The Offer and Stipulate, while Green Moon couldn’t sprint with them.
Junoob took out The Metropolitan in great style. Carrying 58kg and left in front a long way out, he showed great ticker to fend off Opinion. Araldo made great ground in the same race and is on the limit.
Who Shot Thebarman has strung two wins together and was impressive in the Bart Cummings. You get the feeling he is now ready for 3200m, but you must respect the Chris Waller yard.
His fourth and final runner is Moriarty, who won the Craven Plate last start when ridden cold. That is the key to him, but he will need to make up a lot of ground in the straight. Rising Romance was second in that race, has been improving at every start and does have a 2400m win over the favourite.
The scratchings have left us with only two internationals in Admire Rakti and Seismos. The Japanese raider must be respected and he does have genuine Group 1 form unlike Bande. Seismos is a dour stayer, but you must respect the owners who ran second in this race last year with Dandino.
As always, this is a difficult race to read. I’ll stick with the weight-for-age form along with the Japanese, who are back in Australia for the first time since 2010. Chris Waller also has a strong hand and it is only a matter of time before he wins a major.
Selections
1. Rising Romance
2. Admire Ratki
3. Hawkspur
4. Junoob
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