Saturday’s Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) has attracted a full field, with 17 three-year-old colts and geldings accepted to contest the $1 million classic trip, with a final field of 16 plus an emergency declared and barrier draw released.
Hot Sydney colt Press Statement, and firm favourite at $2.25, has drawn wide with barrier 14.
Bookmakers have only one other runner, Ready For Victory, in single figures, at a $9 quote on Bet365.
While the favourite holds 13 benchmark points over the field, equating to a 6.5kgs weight advantage, his task was made all the more hard in a race that has seen hot favourites fold in the past, especially from a wide draw.
Denman lost to Starspangledbanner in 2009, while $1.22 favourite Pierro lost from out wide to All Too Hard in 2013.
The final field and barrier draw for Saturday’s Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (Race 9, 5:45pm) is as follows:
No. |
Horse |
Trainer |
Jockey |
Barrier |
Weight |
1 |
PRESS STATEMENT |
Chris Waller |
Hugh Bowman |
14 |
56.5 |
2 |
ODYSSEY MOON |
Rodney Northam |
Steven Arnold |
13 |
56.5 |
3 |
READY FOR VICTORY |
Mick Price |
Glen Boss |
4 |
56.5 |
4 |
RAGEESE |
Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes |
TBA |
15 |
56.5 |
5 |
DAL CIELO (NZ) |
Murray Baker |
Opie Bosson |
8 |
56.5 |
6 |
BON AURUM |
Ciaron Maher |
Kerrin McEvoy |
10 |
56.5 |
7 |
SHARDS |
John O’Shea |
Jim Cassidy |
12 |
56.5 |
8 |
SOVEREIGN NATION |
David Hayes & Tom Dabernig |
Michael Walker |
1 |
56.5 |
9 |
BASSETT (NZ) |
Peter G Moody |
Daniel Stackhouse |
9 |
56.5 |
10 |
LAST BULLET |
John Hyam |
Vlad Duric |
6 |
56.5 |
11 |
LIZARD ISLAND |
Pat Hyland |
Blake Shinn |
2 |
56.5 |
12 |
KENTUCKY FLYER |
Robbie Laing |
Craig Williams |
5 |
56.5 |
13 |
TARZINO (NZ) |
Mick Price |
Craig Newitt |
3 |
56.5 |
14 |
SNOOPY |
Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes |
TBA |
11 |
56.5 |
15 |
TULSA |
Michael Moroney |
Ben Melham |
16 |
56.5 |
16 |
MORE THAN MOST |
David Hayes & Tom Dabernig |
TBA |
7 |
56.5 |
17(E) |
MR INDIVIDUAL |
Leon & Troy Corstens |
Mark Zahra |
17 |
56.5 |
Albo
Guest
Shooooooosh , Ron !! E/W all day !
berg
Guest
Bookies lay favourites,and one of the reasons for that is every jockey riding in the race knows who the favourite is and where he is in the run.That is the advantage every other runner has.
Ron
Guest
Nothing is impossible in racing that's for sure. However that being said, a statistical fact worth noting is: No horse has won the Caulfield Guineas from a barrier wider than 13 since Drawn claimed victory from barrier 17 in 1985.
Ron
Guest
Totally concur razzor, he is definitely the horse to beat however his odds of $2.50 is poison and couldn't touch that considering it's his first time racing the other way, although granted Waller would have trained him going both ways so it shouldn't pose a problem but under race pressure it's a totally different ball game. The other fact is his barrier drawn out in 14 will make it allot harder. I'm almost certain he will be on the speed, I have him going hard early to then slot in one out, one back or one out two or three back at the very most - if he is able to slot into this position early without burning to much petrol to get there early then he will be extremely hard to beat.
Ron
Guest
I watched the Danehill Stakes & Caulfield Guineas Prelude races over and over. The Colt by High Chaparral named Last Bullet who has won a Group 3 as a two year old over 1200 meters along with another race in Adelaide over 1200 meters. The only progeny by High Chaparral to win at 1200 meters was Shoot Out who went on to win 5 group 1's. This colt Last Bullet looks like he could be the next superstar once he gets over ground. If you watch his race in the Danhill he got heavily sandwiched and had to be pulled up, however he still made up ground late without being touched because the race was well and truly over. In the Caulfield Guineas Prelude Last Bullet was literally last and about 12 lengths from the front with 200 meters to go, however his last 100 meters he flew home finishing only 1.75 lengths from the eventual winner in (Bon Aurum) As he was making up all this ground in the last 100 meters he was also being forced to run wide due to Ready For Victory pushing him wide, this alone would have cost him at least 2 lengths, so if he had the chance of going straight he may have won the Prelude. Last Bullet sectionals were phenomenal, he ran the 2nd quickest 600 meters, also the 2nd quickest 400 meters and the fastest 200 meters. I really liked what I seen with this young colt by the mighty High Chaparral. If he has the opportunity to position himself in the first half of the field early in the Caulfield Guineas he has the potential to finish of very strong down the outside to win this. My only reservation is whether or not 1600 meters will be to short for him. One thing is for certain, once he gets over more ground such as 2000 meters plus, this colt could be anything. At $21 he is way over the odds for mine and exceptional value.
razzar
Guest
Press statement can win. But is he a 5/4 chance? A 45% chance of winning the Guiness. Settles back at the Heath, possible traffic issues. Pace may determine his fate. Looks okay tempo,but hoops arnt silly if its all about having something late, those up front can control tempo. 5/4 is a crazy price to take. More like 7/4 for the Sydney visitor...for mine.
kv joef
Roar Guru
Really good question Tristan. From inside 7 maybe, just maybe, his odds are warranted but to draw that gate, at this distance, on this track with the speed all over the place. needs plenty of beard stroking while studying the racemap before deciding on an answer.
BrisburghPhil
Roar Guru
Lonhro, God's Own and Whobegotyou all won from wider barriers so it isn't impossible, especially if there is a class edge. Not sure Pierro had enough of one on All Too Hard who was pretty good on left handed tracks. Denman couldn't see out a mile from memory.
Nathan Absalom
Roar Guru
After the barrier draw I like Dal Cielo, his last effort reminded me of Shamus Award, but what exactly has Bon Aurum done to be double-figure odds?