Ciaron Maher could yet saddle up a powerful four-pronged attack in the 2025 Caulfield Cup (2400m), but the trainer admits only two of his hopefuls are guaranteed a start at this stage, with the others still sweating on ballot positions — including a last-start Group 1 winner.
Royal Supremacy, fresh off his win in The Metropolitan, is on the borderline of the field. His fate will largely depend on whether last year’s runner-up and topweight Buckaroo, who finished third in The Might And Power last weekend, takes his place. With Changingoftheguard already ruled out, Maher is hopeful that Buckaroo’s connections opt to wait for another target, clearing the path for his stayer to gain entry.
“I thought he would just win the Newcastle Cup, but it turns out the form from that is very good, and it all lined up in the Metrop,” Maher said. “He’s improving all the time. He grabs the bit and with each run he races better. He was quite strong on the line (in The Metropolitan).”
Royal Supremacy’s rise through the ranks has been rapid, with three wins from his past four starts, while stablemates Berkshire Breeze and Zardozi sit just outside the top 24. Berkshire Breeze could wear blinkers again if he sneaks into the field, while Zardozi — fourth in the Caulfield Cup last year — is still looking to hit top form this campaign after moderate efforts in the So You Think Stakes, Underwood Stakes, and Turnbull Stakes.
“Her first run was good and you’d say her next two have been under (par),” Maher said. “Last week I expected more. I didn’t think she could win, but I expected more. I might just try some head gear on her, possibly. (In) a mile-and-a-half handicap, we’ll roll the dice with her. She used to pull and tug a bit, but she seems different now, so maybe the shades might be the key that she needs.”
Another key runner is Middle Earth, who will finally step out over 2400m for the first time since arriving in Australia. The European import has solid staying credentials, including a Group win at 2816m and a placing in the Hardwicke Stakes (2414m) in England. “He was a bit slow away the other day, which was not ideal, but I think he’s on track,” Maher said. “He’s never been to the mile and a half (2400m) since we’ve had him here, and he’s a mile-and-a-half-plus horse.”
The final field and barriers for the Caulfield Cup will be confirmed on Wednesday morning, with betting markets expected to move sharply once the lineup is official. For the latest Caulfield Cup odds and promotions, visit Australia’s top betting sites.