The first of the three spring majors will be run and won on Saturday and the Peter Moody trained Incentivise will likely start the Caulfield Cup as the shortest priced favourite in the history of the race.
Our full 2021 Caulfield Cup Day Preview can be found below.
Preview brought to you by Ladbrokes. Learn more about Ladbrokes HERE.
Race 1 – 12:25pm – Benchmark 70 Handicap, (1600m)
Eagles Crag is a horse with a heap of natural ability and he has managed three wins from five career race starts.
Those three victories have been by a combined 9.5 lengths including a soft win at Benalla last time out.
He drops 3.5kgs from that win and while I’m concerned with the gear change (glue on shoes) I’m confident he can start our day on winning note.
Race 2 – 12:50pm – Tile Importer Trophy, (1400m)
Vianello is the most obvious choice in the second event of the day at Caulfield after finishing within a length of Queen Of Dubai at Listed level last start.
The very smart Zouzarella could not pick up the runaway leader that day and that form looks superior to anything else competing in this race.
In saying all of this, this is not a race I will be betting in.
Race 3 – 1:25pm – Listed Gothic Stakes, (1400m)
Prince Alexander was dominant when resuming with a two lengths win at Sandown and was well backed late in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes last start at The Valley.
He was right in the race at the turn but was a little weak late to still finish within two lengths of the winner Forgot You.
With the addition of blinkers for the first time to sharpen him up a bit, he can bounce back in a weaker race here.
Race 4 – 2:00pm – Group 3 Ethereal Stakes, (2000m)
The well bred Mokulua is yet to break her maiden status in five attempts and was beaten over four lengths in the Edward Manifold last start at Flemington.
She is by Redoute’s Choice out of Dear Demi so she is finally getting to a more suitable distance.
Stalking had eight weeks in between runs leading in to the Edward Manifold where she was doing her best work late to finish fourth.
Look for a sharp improvement here in the Ethereal Stakes.
Race 5 – 2:35pm – Group 3 Neds Classic, (2000m)
You have to love the way Gunstock found the line at Flemington in the Super Impose over 1800m when he was beaten by less than half a length behind El Patroness.
He is by Tavistock out of a Zabeel mare so the step up in distance is ideal, and whatever he does in this race, he will improve on when getting out even further.
Having drawn perfectly in barrier two with the in form Jye McNeil steering and the blinkers have been added for the first time, he’s the play in this race.
Race 6 – 3:10pm – Group 3 Moonga Stakes, (1400m)
Buffalo River was very brave last Saturday when he was only run over late by Kahma Lass and I loved how brave he was really late in the piece.
He loves the 1400m here at Caulfield and he will appreciate the slight drop back to Group 3 company for the Moonga Stakes.
Huge fan of the appointment of Jye McNeil who climbs aboard for the first time and is racing in excellent form right at the minute.
Race 7 – 3:45pm – Group 2 Tristarc Stakes, (1400m)
This is an excellent rendition of the Tristarc Stakes with plenty of form lines to assess.
Chaillot couldn’t have been much more impressive when she came out and won the Testa Rossa first up at Sandown, showing a scintillating turn of foot late in the race.
She has now managed five wins from nine career starts and has a huge amount of upside.
Kahma Lass is another mare on the rise and she is on the quick back up after her win in the Weekend Hussler last Saturday at this track and distance.
She will be required to carry 5kg more in this event but she represents good each way value.
Race 8 – 4:30pm – Listed Alinghi Stakes, (1100m)
How Womantic has been a very consistent mare managing five wins from 13 career starts and being placed a further three times.
The five year old mare was excellent when resuming behind Esta La Roca and Bless Her at Sandown over 1000m.
She was doing her best work late in that race and will appreciate the step up in distance now.
Race 9 – 4:45pm – Group 1 Caulfield Cup, (2400m)
Incentivise will likely start the shortest priced favourite ever in the Caulfield Cup and I’m struggling to find a way he gets beaten.
He enters the race having won his last eight races in a row including his last two at Group 1 level.
As a huge and rangy horse, he looks a genuine staying type to my eye and will only be better the further he goes in distance.
I don’t see anything turning the tables on him and barring any bad luck I think he will win this and may become the first horse to complete the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups double since Ethereal in 2001.
Race 10 – 4:50pm – Group 2 Caulfield Sprint, (1000m)
Malkovich is a very progressive type of horse who worked his way through the grade last prep and finished with a narrow second in the Group 3 Monash Stakes at this track.
He should be very forward for this first up assignment having won both his trials by a combined 10+ lengths and he should settle right on the speed making his own luck in the Caulfield Sprint.