The Caulfield Cup, one of the major Australian racing events, is next up on the spring calendar. Join The Roar for live coverage of the Caulfield Cup main race, from 4:40pm AEDT.
A cool 19 degrees is predicted for Melbourne on race day. There is a good chance of some rain in the morning – up to 3mm – but those showers are expected to clear by the afternoon.
The main race, the Stella Artois Caulfield Cup, is race eight on the program at Caulfield and will be run at 4:40pm AEDT.
King’s Will Dream is the favourite and has been since March, after a Mornington Cup victory secured his ballot-free position.
He has had a dream preparation with placings at Group 1 level from his past three starts.
Chris Waller trained Youngstar ($6) has drawn well at barrier ten and will enjoy carrying the light load of 51.5kg. The four-year-old mare has never raced 2400m before, but as second favourite plenty think she’ll suit it.
The Cliffsofmoher, barrier 3, raced well for fourth in the Caulfield Stakes last week, finishing strongly with the seventh fastest last 600m of the day.
There are six international visitors in this year’s field, exactly how they’ll travel and perform is always up in the air. Chestnut Coat is the pick of the lot though; the Japanese horse is building form and recently ran fifth in the Tenno Sho, Japan’s equivalent to the Melbourne Cup.
Prediction
Youngstar is my pick for this year’s Caulfield Cup. She might be new to the distance, but after a fast run in the Turnball Stakes, the second fastest last 600m, 400m and 200m of the day behind Winx, she looks the goods.
Kerrin McEvoy is riding her and is very confident 2400m will suit nicely.
Youngstar to beat Ace High and Cliffsofmoher.
Join The Roar’s live coverage of race eight, the Caulfield Cup, from 4:40pm AEDT and drop a comment in the box below.
Start time: 4:40pm AEDT
Racecourse: Caulfield
Distance: 2400m
TV: Seven Network, Sky Racing
Full field
1. Best Solution – Barrier 17
2. The Cliffsofmoher – Barrier 3
3. Chestnut Coat – Barrier 13
4. Jon Snow – Barrier 15
5. Sound Check – Barrier 16
6. Ace High – Barrier 8
7. The Taj Mahal – Barrier 19
8. Duretto – Barrier 1
9. Red Verdon – Barrier 9
10. Vengeur Masque – Barrier 7
11. Ventura Storm – Barrier 11
12. Mighty Boss – Barrier 14
13. Homesman – Barrier 4
14. Kings will Dream – Barrier 6
15. Sole Impact – Barrier 20
16. Gallic Chieftain – Barrier 2
17. Night’s Watch – Barrier 18
18. Youngstar – Barrier 10
Reserves
19. Patrick Erin – Barrier 12
20. Jaameh – Barrier 5
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
That's all for today's Spring Racing coverage of the Caulfield Cup. Thanks for following along today and enjoy the rest of the Carnival.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
FINISHING ORDER 1. Best Solution (P Cosgrave) 2. Homesman (B J Moloney) 3. The Cliffsofmoher (H Bowman) 4. Duretto 5. The Taj Mahal 6. Kings Will Dream 7. Youngster 8. Gallic Chieftain 9. Vengeur Masque 10. Ventura Storm 11. Red Verdon 12. Sound Check 13. Chestnut Coat 14. Sole Impact 15. Ace High 16. Night's Watch 17. Mighty Boss 18. Jon Snow
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Kings Will Dream a little injured according to his jockey - got a gash and had a pool of blood when he de-saddled. Kings Will Dream stumbled just out of the barrier and seemed to take the gash when he almost collapsed. Disappointing run for the favourite, was a slower race that didn't suit him at all.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
It was a photo finish for 1 and 2, Cliffsofmoher was just behind them and probably wasn't suited to how the race was run. The favourite Kings Will Dream was slow out the barrier, ran into traffic and was unable to get a look at it.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
I'll post the finishing order in just a moment.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Pat Cosgrove very happy with that win, Best Solution rode very well carrying 57.5kgs and coming from Barrier 17. He missed the start, got stuck in the pack early, but found the outside and went with The Taj Mahal and had the guts to sprint from a long way back. The Irish jockey is going to stay until next Friday night to finish out his Australian spring.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Pat Cosgrave***
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
BEST SOLUTION WINS THE CAULFIELD CUP Homesman and Ace High are up the front early, Kings Will Dream locked on the inside.... Ace High out in front by a length... Sole Impact, Homesman, Best Solution in the lead 1400m. Past the 1100 Ace High still in front. Taj Mahal comes up the outside and takes over the lead, Best Solution skips away with him and Ace High falls back in the field.... Best Solution in front 300m to go... Homesman closing.... BEST SOLUTION takes it. Best Solution 1, Homesman 2, The Cliffsofmoher 3. Peter Cosgrove on board Best Solution, with the top weight and a wide barrier, was a great run. Saeed Bin Suroor very happy with that win, a good year for the trainer and his horses.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Away
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
field is set
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Jon Snow just getting checked out, should be cleared to go... other horses are in.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Jon Snow went through the stalls, has to go around and load again.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Into the barriers...
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Anyone following along got a tip for today?
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
A few minutes to go... Horses around near the barriers now
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
My pick - Youngstar - is out to $7.50 with ladbrokes and I'm sticking with her. Chestnut Coat and Sole Impact looked a little uneasy in the parade - will have to wait and see how they go.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Bit of rain around Melbourne today, umbrellas have been out. Earlier the racetrack was rated a soft 5 - it won't suit the likes of Jon Snow.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Red Verdon will race after being cleared by the vet, a skin irritation the issue earlier this week. The two reserves have been scratched, the field of 18 are good to go.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Good afternoon Roarers, welcome to our live coverage of the Caulfield Cup. The jockeys have been introduced, now the horses are being paraded around - 10 minutes away from the start.