Horse Racing

The 2011 Caulfield Cup third declarations were taken by Racing Victoria today with 40 gallopers still in contention for the October 15 feature.

December Draw is nearing odds-on favouritism for the 2011 Caulfield Cup

At second declaration stage for the $2.5 million Group 1 BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) there were 80 contenders paid up for, but this number has been halved with the most notable omission being reigning Melbourne Cup winner Americain.

The French-trained Americain was paid up for at first declaration stage for the $6.2 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) today and was also a third acceptor for the $3 million Cox Plate (2040m), but connections have opted not to vie for the Caulfield Cup – Melbourne Cup double in 2011.

As Americain was the original topweight, 2011 Caulfield Cup weights will rise by a minimum of 2kg.

Dominating the Caulfield Cup 2011 betting at Luxbet is clearcut favourite December Draw.

Pre-third declarations the imported December Draw sat at the top of the Caulfield Cup odds at $3 following their hard-fought win in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington last Sunday, and they have since firmed into $2.80.

Prepared by former Melbourne Cup winning trainer Mark Kavanagh, December Draw is also the only horse that has a current Caulfield Cup ballot exemption thanks to their earlier success in the Naturalism Stakes.

Three horses sit equal second on the latest Caulfield Cup 2011 order of entry with the Robert Hickmott-trained Midas Touch, Chris Waller’s Group 1 winning import My Kingdom Of Fife and the Danny O’Brien-trained mare Shamrocker.

Both on 55kg Midas Touch and Kingdom OF Fife are the new co-topweights for the Caulfield Cup 2011, but their weights will rise to at least 57kg as a clause specifies that the Caulfield Cup topweight must carry at least 57kg.

This is good news for December Draw’s regular rider Michael Rodd.

December Draw is currently allocated 52kg for the Caulfield Cup, a weight Rodd would be unable to get down to.

With weights increased, Rodd has confirmed that he can get to 54kg without issue allowing him the prized ride aboard December Draw on Caulfield Cup Day 2011.

Americain may have been withdrawn, but there are still six international horses featuring in the Caulfield Cup third declarations.

Overseas-trained Caulfield Cup hopes this year include John Moore’s Hong Kong galloper Mighty High; the Luca Cumani-trained Drunken Sailor, Manighar, Bauer and Sahara Sun; and Brian Ellison’s Saptapadi.

Other notable 2011 Caulfield Cup Third Acceptors include:

• The Michael Moroney-trained Glass Harmonium who came within a nose of December Draw when second in Sunday’s Turnbull Stakes
• Crowd favourite, the Jake Stephens-trained South Australian raider Alcopop who races in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) this Saturday
• Graeme Rogerson’s Queensland Derby winner Shootoff who finished an eye-catching second to My Kingdom Of Fife in last weekend’s Craven Plate
• The Chris Waller-trained The Verminator, penalised 2kg in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup weights for their surprise win in the Group 1 The Metropolitan over the Caulfield Cup distance at Randwick last Saturday
• David Vandyke’s progressive five-year-old stayer Lamasery who ran third in The Metropolitan
• Smart four-year-old mare from Morphettville Southern Speed who has been very competitive this season including her second to Lion Tamer in the Underwood Stakes and fourth in the Turnbull last start

A number of big-name stayers have defected from Caulfield Cup calculations with connections opting to focus on the 2011 Cox Plate including Peter Moody’s in-form mare King’s Rose, Underwood Stakes winning Kiwi Lion Tamer, ace WA galloper Playing God and the Jim Conlan-trained Moonee Valley specialist Rekindled Interest.

The next stage of declarations for the world’s richest 2400 metre handicap will be the release of the 2011 Caulfield Cup final field on Tuesday October 11.

Stay tuned to Races.com.au for the latest Caulfield Cup 2011 news, field and betting updates.

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2011 Caulfield Cup Third Declarations, Weights & Ballot