It’s Caulfield Cup day this Saturday, October 19th! The Cup will come up in Race 9 at Caulfield at 5:15pm AEDT, with runners covering 2400m on what’s currently rated as a Good 4 track. The favourite for the race at the time of writing is (2) Buckaroo. Brendan Bunworth provides a full runner-by-runner preview for the Cup below!
2024 Caulfield Cup Preview & Tips
(1) Kalapour (4): Trainer: K.Lees. Jockey: B.Melham: Has drawn well in barrier 4 but is the top weight with 55kg and I would be surprised if he finishes in the top half of the field. His current odds of 101-1 seems about right despite finishing 4L behind one of the favoured runners Eliyass in the Premier Cup at Randwick on August 24. 101-1.
(2) Buckaroo (8): Trainer: C.Waller. Jockey: J. Moreira: Is the favourite after a dominant win in the Underwood and after running solid enough 2nd in the Turnbull, he will settle midfield in this and be one of the strongest to the line. He is 1 from 1 at Caulfield and with this being the 5th run from a spell, he is fully wound up. A Good track looks ideal but it doesn’t look as though he will be upset by a little rain beforehand. Has looked excellent in both NSW and VIC since September 7 when winning the Chelmsford and it is of no surprise that his form has come good at this time of the season. $4.60-1.
(3) Circle Of Fire (13): Trainer. C.Maher, Jockey: J. Allen: Hasn’t fired this campaign and has overrated at times. Both of those starts were on rain-affected ground though and he should get it direr here. 41-1.
(4) Warp Speed (19): Trainer. N.Takagi. Jockey: A.Sugawara: Has drawn the carpark and the Japanese import is resuming. Would be very surprised if he ran in the top 3 but a predicted Dry track is preferred. Hasn’t won in almost a year. 21-1.
(5) Huetor (7): Trainer. P. Snowden. Jockey: Luke Currie: Has a good draw and he will get back as per his usual racing pattern. He shouldn’t get caught wide and he has been running on well lately. Ran a good 2nd in the Underwood but was a tad disappointing last start in the Turnbull (12th). 41-1.
(6) Warmonger (16): Trainers.M.Price/M.Kent Jr. Jockey. M. Dee: The stable has indicated that he may be ridden more forward in this race but from barrier 16, the worry is that he may get caught wide. He got back and ran on very well for 2nd in the Underwood and for a winning chance I think he needs a Soft track. Big Place hope. 16-1.
(7) Eliyass (21): Trainers: G.Waterhouse&A. Bott. Jockey. T. Clark: Drawing 21 is not ideal but he will go forward anyway and settle in the top 4. He stuck on very well when 3rd in the Turnbull and at least punters will know he has a chance being in the top 4 on the home turn. He won the Kingston Town at Randwick just 1 month ago and the stable has won this race previously. He is first up trying the 2400m but that looks to be of the no worries. The worry is the barrier really and if he uses too much petrol early getting over. $6.50-1.
(8) Land Legend (1): Trainer C. Waller. Jockey. Z. Purton: Zac Purton comes across from Hong Kong to ride this one and the Metropolitan winner likely settle midfield on the rails from the draw. Had a great battle with Zardozi last start where he just held on for the W where both horses were strong to the line. There was a solid tempo that day and I reckon he will want a fast-run Caulfield Cup. 10-1.
(9) Young Werther (10): Trainer. D.O’Brien. Jockey. J.McNiel: Is a versatile gelding who can go forward or back in his races but to win this one he will need a Dry track. He has been in a Listed/Group Race on 27 occasions and has failed to win one yet. This is obviously one of the best feature races on the calendar and will need all the favours. Went forward in the Turnbull and ran 5th and was freshened before that run for this. 21-1.
(10) Duke De Sessa (6): Trainer. C.Maher. Jockey. H. Coffey: Hasn’t won a race in almost 2 years so this would be a master training effort. A wetter track would help but the Duke hasn’t been getting beaten too far in hi races after going forward. Led in the Turnbull and was only a 2: beaten 4th behind Via Sistina. Harry Coffey rides for the first time. 21-1.
(11) Knight’s Choice (14): Trainers. J. Symons & S. Laxon Jockey. R. Dolan: Was last in the Turnbull and his best effort lately was a 4th in the Coloundra Cup on a Heavy track. Can run the distance but I would be surprised if he runs in the top 10. 101.1.
(12) Muramasa (5) Trainers: N. Young/T.Busuttin. Jockey. D. Moor: Was 2nd to So You Think on September 7 and then he worked home nicely at Hillside on September 28. Will likely settle midfield from the nice barrier and is a Place chance. Daniel Moor knows him well having won on 4 occasions so will know the horse’s quirks. 23-1.
(13) Zardozi (12) Trainer. J.Cummings. Jockey. A.Atzeni: Had no luck when caught wide in The Metropolitan but stuck on well for 2nd after a failed protest behind Land Legend. It was the run of the race and she has now run 2nds over this distance. A bit of rain won’t hurt and he will likely sit midfield in the run on the outside. With 51kg she comes in well at the weights and should be one of the best late. My top pick. $7.50-1.
(14) Coco Sun (20). Trainers. T&C McEvoy. Jockey. K. Teetan: It's going to be hard from out there especially when she has been beaten at a total of 15L in his last 3 starts. She doesn’t seem to like Caulfield and its her first try at the distance.
(15) Deny Knowledge (17). Trainers. A&S Freedman. Jockey. C.Newitt: Gets a quality front-running jockey on here with Mark Zahra racing elsewhere. Led, kicked and held on for his first Group 1 on Saturday, defeating the highly fancied Mr. Brightside. Will want the track to stay Dry and will come across early from the wide barrier to take it up. Has won over this distance. 9-1.
(16) Valiant King (18). Trainer. C.Waller. Jockey. T. Nugent: Can run the distance which is a tick but hasn’t won on a Good surface yet. To have any chance will likely need it Heavy and despite running 6th in this race last year, I just can’t see the King winning. 61-1.
(17) Positivity (9).Trainer. A Forsman. Jockey, W. Costin. Gets a preferred Good track unless the rains come on Friday night. Won the Naturalism at this track and closed off nicely in the Bart Cummings at Flemington (7th). Both Caulfield runs have been very good and is a blow out hope at big odds. 26-1.
(18) Sayedaty Sadaty (2). Trainer. C. Maher. Jockey. B.Thompson: Is a horse that I admit I don't know much about. Come over from the UK and his last 2 starts have been over this Caulfield Cup distance. Has only had the 9 starts and Dry ground looks preferred. Is first up here and hasn’t won in 14 months. Has been backed in from 21-1 already and is obviously a chance. 15-1.
(19) Fancy Man (1EM) (3) Trainers. A. Neasham & R. Archibold. Jockey. R. Stewart: Ran a gallant 3rd in the Herbert Power and is the first emergency who should get a run. Herman Hesse had him covered last start and a top 10 finish looks best. 101-1.
(20) Berkshire Breeze (2EM) (15). Trainer. C.Maher. Jockey. Not Notified: Is probably only a slight chance of gaining a run but if he does, I think he is a blowout chance. Despite being disappointing this prep, he has the ability to go forward and stay for a long way. The stable has tried different tactics on him, he went back two starts back in the Archer (3rd), and then settled midfield to on-speed in the Bart Cummings where he was 4th behind Just Fine. He was only beaten 1.7L on that occasion and Just Fine is now in the Melbourne Cup. Berkshire Breeze needs a win to get in. 61-1.
(21) Francesco Guardi (3EM) (11) Trainer. C. Waller. Jockey. Not Notified: Unlikely to get a run and hasn’t won a race in 23 months. In saying that he hasn’t been getting beaten too far and it was an improved effort last start in the Turnbull (7th). 81-1.
(13) Zardozi Each-Way
$7.50/$2.75 (1 Unit)
