A field of 12 potential stayers will face off in the 2014 Caulfield Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse this Saturday, offering punters some great betting options and the chance to back a winner.
Sacred Falls is the favourite betting prospect for the Caulfield Stakes. Photo by Steve Hart.
This year’s Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) is being billed as a mini-Cox Plate seeing as the top four betting prospects will all clash on Saturday. It is one of four Group One races taking part on Guineas Day, which is set to be an action-packed day of racing.
There are five single figure hopefuls available at Ladbrokes.com.au with Sacred Falls leading the pack at $4.20.
The Chris Waller-trained horse has drawn the widest barrier, but this hasn’t stopped him earning favouritism.
The five-year-old will partner jockey Zac Purton, who has brought him home first in two Group One races. The pair took out the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) back in April before finishing runner-up in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).
Sacred Falls was saddled by two different jockeys at the beginning of his spring campaign, and he missed out on a placing in both. However, he was back with Purton for the Group 1 Geo Main Stakes (1600m) his last time out, which he won by 1.5 lengths. This pair will be tough to beat.
It’s a tough betting battle for the Caulfield Group One race, with four other single figure prospects on the field:
- #10 Dissident ($4.40) – Peter Moody’s four-year-old is right on Sacred Fall’s tail in the betting, following a market move from $4.80. This horse is in great form following two Group One wins and another second from his three spring starts but many punters are curious to see if he can make the trip up to 2000m, as this is his real first test.
- #3 Fawkner (($5.50) – This seven-year-old gelding opened the betting market well after drawing barrier four. The reigning Caulfield Cup champion has only been seen once this spring, coming home just a short head-neck behind Dissident in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) for runner-up.
- #4 Happy Trails ($8) – Paul Beshara’s gelding is the final top-four Cox Plate contender in the mix but money is slowing after his disappointing Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) run last weekend. The seven-year-old has already proven successful at the distance though, coming second in last year’s Cox Plate and the Underwood Stakes last month.
- #11 Dear Demi ($9) – The last single figure hopeful for the 2014 Caulfield Stakes is Clarry Conners’ mare, one of only two females on the field. She’ll get a great start over the boys however after drawing barrier one, which means she’ll enjoy the inside run. In-form following a Group Two first-second during her last starts.
This is a very talented field however, with a number of double figure hopefuls who could cause an upset at lucrative odds.
The Andrew Balding-trained Side Glance ($17) managed minor placings his last two times out, which were both Group Ones over the same distance as the Caulfield Stakes.
The eight-year-old will start from barrier five with champion jockey Jamie Spencer to ride.
Check out the full list of 2014 Caulfield Stakes odds below, then open your Ladbrokes.com.au online account and back your winner.
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