Horse Racing

The 2012 Australian Cup campaigns of a number of exciting gallopers are due to kick off at Caulfield this Saturday when the likes of Green Moon, Ranger and Manighar face off in the $125,000 Group 3 Carlyon Cup (1600m).

Set to run as Caulfield Race 4 on the CF Orr Stakes Day program, the 2012 Carlyon Cup has drawn a bumper field of 15 acceptors led by the Robert Hickmott-trained Green Moon.

Drawn ideally in gate two with Steven King engaged for the ride, the imported Montjeu stallion enjoyed a brilliant spring campaign late last year winning the Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) in September before their eye-catching second to Southern Speed in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).

Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed also races on Saturday when she faces superstar mare Black Caviar in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m).

Green Moon was last seen finishing a disappointing 12^th when they beat home just one other runner in the Group 3 The Lexus Stakes (2500m) on Derby Day.

They resume on Saturday in the Carlyon Cup heading towards a start in the $1 million Group 1 Dubai Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 10.

Australian Cup 2012 odds at Luxbet are currently led by 2010 Melbourne Cup champ Americain ($4.20), Green Moon one of the other early fancies paying $13.

Another Australian Cup-bound horse racing first-up in the Carlyon Cup this Saturday is Perth raider Ranger.

They have work to do having come up with the ‘visitor’s draw’ out wide in barrier 15, Craig Williams to ride the Grant Williams-trained five-year-old.

Last season at home Ranger enjoyed plenty of success including their second to Playing God, another CF Orr Stakes runner on Saturday, in the Kingston Town Classic before their last-start third in the CB Cox Stakes on December 17.

Saturday is Ranger’s first interstate assignment, but already they are well-liked for the Australian Cup in March paying $26 in the early Luxbet markets.

Another $26 Australian Cup chance racing in the Carlyon is the now Peter Moody-trained Manighar.

The former European was a strong force last season in Australia finishing fourth in the Caulfield Cup, fifth in the Melbourne Cup and then second to Americain last-start in the Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) at Sandown on November 12.

Manighar is one of four Carlyon Cup hopes for Moody, trainer of the undefeated Black Caviar horse, along with recent John Dillon Stakes runner-up Shout Out Loud, Danewin gelding King Diamond and Zabeel six-year-old Macedonian.

Macedonian and King Diamond are currently $101 roughies in the Australian Cup markets and could come in considerably if they race well on Saturday.

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2012 Carlyon Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw

Caulfield Race 4 – 2:35pm (VIC time) – 11/02/2012