There were some hits and misses for Melbourne Cup hopefuls on Saturday in another fantastic Caulfield Cup.
The $5,000,000 race was ultimately won by Mark Zahra aboard Without A Fight. He remains around third in the betting for the big one on November 7. Results and Melbourne Cup market update as Anthony and Sam Freedman land the Caulfield Cup.
Ups and Downs for Flemington Contenders
The first three in the Caulfield Cup have thrilled their connections. Just 2¼ lengths separated Without A Fight, West Wind Blows and Gold Trip at the line and they are all short enough in the Melbourne Cup betting.
The Freedman runner ran on very well in the final strides to land the race in the shadow of the post. That success makes him now look tailor-made for the Melbourne Cup, with connections looking certain now to allow him another crack at the race.
2022 Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip came right back to form two weeks ago when winning the Turnbull Stakes. He ran another huge race this time, filling third place from the 11 barrier. He is shortening all the time in the market to become a rare double winner at Flemington.
Arguably by contrast, more could have been expected of Soulcombe and Breakup. The former, trained by Chris Waller, was second-favourite for Melbourne at one point. His 5½-length defeat in seventh didn’t hugely strengthen his Cup claims.
Japanese horse Breakup has been another very well-touted runner for Flemington. He was a head further behind Soulcombe in 8th. On the one hand, some will say that was a fair warm-up, but he was only a $10 chance and many thought he’d go much closer at Caulfield under Damian Lane.
Result and Market Check
Here’s how they finished in the Caulfield Cup:
1. Without A Fight ($8.50).
2. West Wind Blows ($5.50).
3. Gold Trip ($6.50).
4. Bois D’Argent ($101.00).
Selected others:
6. Valiant King ($10.00).
7. Soulcombe ($8.00).
8. Breakup ($10.00).
11. Hoo Ya Mal ($10.00).
16. Goldman ($81.00).
17. Francesco Guardi ($26.00).
18. Emissary ($101.00).
After Saturday’s result Vauban remains at the head of the market at between $3.50 and $4.50. Gold Trip is available at anywhere between $5.00 and $8.00 in the Melbourne Cup odds.
Without A Fight can be backed at between $7.00 and $9.00, while Soulcombe and Breakup remain solid at a best-priced $10.00 and $15.00 respectively.
Dettori Could Miss Melbourne
We’ve already had the Melbourne Cup parade cancelled, and now the Dettori farewell roadshow could also stop short of Flemington.
The Italian star bowed out of British racing in fine style on Saturday. He rode Trawlerman to victory in the stayers’ race, before his last ride as a full-time jockey in Britain was a winning one in none other than the Champion Stakes.
The BHA’s Whip Committee however will be looking at his winning ride on Trawlerman. A potential whip ban may be incoming, something which could rule him out of Flemington.
