Caulfield Cup Day Review

Sunday, 22 October 2023 by Admin User

R2 G3 Neds Classic 3yo 2000m

Riff Rocket was a raging fav starting 3's on and we again see a horse beaten by pure weight of money, they just went oh so slowly the winner Sunsets was actually a Gold Miner rated at $10 winning at $16 but that Sr 83 was 16 points lower than standard. They just walked. Riff Rocket was home 22.6 83/102 +19. I am glad he didn't take off earlier and have a gut buster with his target still 2 weeks away. With that 105/115 2 back ringing loud he will still be our top pick in the Derby. The winner is no slouch and that racing style will ensure he is in the right place in all his races. 

R3 G3 Ethereal Stakes 2000m 3yo F

My 1 x 3 play Autumn Angel rated at $3.9 won at $4.6 running down a valiant Tropical Squall who was a bullet dodged starting at $2 when rated $2.40. The winner franked her XR 99 at her previous start with 100/104 here suggesting she can continue to progress towards the Oaks from here. The runner up Tropical Squall rated 98/97, I am not so concerned with neg splits from leaders and she will be better for that hit out over ground but a strong 2400m must remain a query. The 3rd placed Basillinna ran a career best 92/100 and she is still full of upside. Konasana 92/95 was the only other runner worth mentioning. 

R4 Listed Gothic Stakes 3yo 1200m

The winner here Arkansaw Kid was hard to find, he ended last campaign with -19 and was beaten 10 lengths first up. For those who have followed me for some time he was an obvious MPB starting at a very suspicious $7.50. He had rated SR 99 when 3rd in the Bliue Diamond so his Sr 98 in winning here wasn't completely a surprise. Sectionals rating of 88 was weakish for the day.. Our top pick Facile ran 2nd 97/84 was within wheelhouse but again weak late. Don Corleone our 2nd pick came from last for 3rd 97/97. They had a big edge on the other through this. 

R5 G2 100 Guineas Prelude 3yo F

Our top pick and 1 x3 Gold Miner Coeur Volante was $6 into $4.60 before a commanding win. 103/93 was again neg split in nature in a year without a dominant filly at this stage. Runner up Vivy Air was the big improver at start 5 clearly running the best closing splits 98/96 the run of the race. 3rd placed Zourion 97/90 was solid as we easily dodged Inhibitions and Lovely Lookin

R6 G2 McCafe Sprint Open

Only 7 went around here so no pace and NTD. Top pick Spacewalk was light, settled at the tail and ran home strongly looking all over a winner at the 100m mark but couldnt reel in the leader. He is a 102 horse and 100/104 was smack bang on target. I under rated he winner Doull who has gone to a new level this campaign since changing barns. Following her SR 100 first up with a career best 101/102. His racing style will always have in the the right place and still looks to be on the up. 3rd placed Generation's 99/100 was right in hs wheel house with Lofty Strike not firng fresh and Sandgroper Indian Pacific a shadow of former self. 

R7 G2 Tristarc Mares 1400m

We hit another tasty Gold Miner here with 101 horse and $3.90 rated Wrote To Arataki winning at $6 following her 105/101 when wide the trip last start with 103/102. She is a quality girl.  Runner up Shuffle Dancer who has an XR 106 last time in was run of the race with 102/106. She looks primed to peak next time out. 3rd placed Call Di continues to improve with racing. She was suspiciously shot at 411 stepping to 1400m 3rd up and ran on well with 101/102 suggesting she still has plenty of upside. 4th placed Madame Pommery who was a triple confirmed XR 102 horse going in but who had been a little down her previous 2 got her campaign right back on track with 100/103. There was only 1.8 lengths between the top 8 here in what should be a strong form race going forward.

R8 G3 Moonga Open 1400m 

Top pick Buffalo River led all the way after being heavily backed 104/95 was right in his wheelhouse. Gold Miner Cause For Concern was rated $5.40 and started $10 ran 3rd running the best closing splits in the race 98/97 was just about right on mark. With 99 horse Climbing Star splitting with an Sr 99. 4th placed Fender was sound 96/94. This race will hold up solidly. 

R9 G1 Caulfield Cup 2400m Open

What an absolute classic and we found the Trifecta in our top 4. It shaped as a classic and the pressure was enormous start to finish allowing the cream to rise to the top and I haven't seen numbers like these for some time. the winner Without A Fight who had been so good to us in the QLD winter with XR's of 110 and 115 just smashed the clock 129/128 just edging out import West Wind Blows with 128/127 following on from his Sr111 over 2000m on oz debut. Our 1 x3 Gold Miner Gold Trip ran 3rd franking his  118/119 last time out with 118/120 here he is a class package. We have had our eye on Bois D;Argent since that 105/113 earlier this year and he returned to best with 113/111. This sets up the rest of the Spring in some fashion. This could be a Cup for the ages. The winner was only 2nd up so he should come on from tthat with the concerns of flat runs off huge peaks for the first 2 across the line. 

R10 Listed Alinghi 1100m Mares

We dodged overbet $2.15 fav Vivienne rating the 97 horse at $3.30 and she wilted late 95/87, 2nd pick Hypothetical looked the winner at the 50m but 95/84 was again not that strong late. Given the winner at $19 Lempika 96/97 when home 22.5 in clearly the run of the race. She had rated SrR94 at her previous start at 1000m but had only won 1 in 6 at the 1100m so those numbers were hard to foresee

All in all a classic day of racing and we now head to Geelong for the Cup Weds, the Moonee valley Friday night for Manikato night then onto the Cox plate next Saturday