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Ciaron Maher will now saddle-up four in this afternoon’s Caulfield Cup 2024 field after the scratchings of Muramasa and Positivity from the original 18 starter line-up have allowed the inclusion of Berkshire Breeze into the $5 million classic which could be run on a Heavy-rated track.
The next edition of the world’s richest mile and a half handicap will light up Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne at 5:15pm (AEDT) today, and with the track currently at a Heavy (8) it will make for an interesting showdown come Race 9 with the mudlarks looking to shine.
Below we take a look at the Caulfield Cup 2023 betting market movers and shakers as well as the official post-scratching Caulfield Cup field.
2024 Caulfield Cup Scratchings
- #12 Muramasa (5)
- #9 Positivity (9)
- #21e Francesco Guardi (11)
2024 Caulfield Cup Emergencies Now In
- #19e Fancy Man (3)
- #20e Berkshire Breeze (12)
In big news for female hoop Carleen Hefel, she gets into her first Caulfield Cup assignment partnering Berkshire Breeze from barrier 12 as a $51 shot in the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au.
The updated Caulfield Cup field will two of the three emergencies with the withdrawal of Muramasa (5) and Positivity (9) who were to have been ridden by Daniel Moore and Winona Costin respectively.
Connections of the Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young-trained Muramasa chose to save their galloper for another day due to the conditions, a move Moore said was best.
“We definitely wouldn’t have seen the best of Muramasa today on a heavy deck, so he’s saved for another day,” Moore said on social media.
Caulfield Cup Day will start on a Heavy (8) but there is hope that with clear skies the track could see a potential upgrade to a Soft (7) by the big race.
“The radar looks clear at the moment so if it stays clear and the strong wind keeps up, we are a good chance to get a (Soft) 7,” Caulfield track manager Sam Bennetts told Racing.com.
“I am not so confident we’ll get to a (Soft) 6 with the light marking on the track with all the racing it has had over the past seven days.
“I think they’ll use up the inside lanes early in the day then we’ll have genuine markings throughout.”
Andrew Forsman‘s four-year-old mare Positivity meanwhile was officially scratched on Friday due to the Naturalism Stakes winner suffering from a minor hoof issue.
With Positivity out it has paved the way for the Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald-trained Fancy Man, third in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes at the course and distance last start, to run from barrier three with Ron Stewart aboard on just 50kg.
Fancy Man is a $61 outsider in betting.
Last weekend’s Group 1 Might And Power winning mare Deny Knowledge meanwhile has passed her final vet examination and is free to line-up on the quick back-up.
Changes to the mare’s gait prompted the re-inspection on race morning which she passed.
RV stewards also approved a late gear change for Deny Knowledge who will be fitted with concussion plates on front.
The earlier cloud of doubt over her inclusion has seen Deny Knowledge ease out to $17 for Anthony & Sam Freedman.
Maher meanwhile will now saddle-up Berkshire Breeze, Sydney Cup winner Circle Of Fire ($21), interesting import Sayedaty Sadaty ($14) in barrier two for the horse’s Australian race debut, and the early Caulfield Cup market mover Duke De Sessa ($11).
Duke De Sessa has been well-supported firming right in from $23 to $11 with Harry Coffey to ride on 52kg from barrier six.
Ninth in the race last year, the now six-year-old stayer is a two-time winner at the distance and comes off back-to-back fourths in the Underwood Stakes and Turnbull Stakes respectively.
“He was a really good run last year in the race, he’s been gelded since and his last two runs have been very solid,” Maher said of Duke De Sessa.
“He was outsprinted in the Underwood and then was strong on the line, then they picked up really early from home in the Turnbull and he was still strong on the line.”
Caulfield Cup odds continue to be led by the Chris Waller-trained 3.5 length Underwood Stakes winner Buckaroo at $4.50.
Waller’s Group 1 The Metropolitan winner Land Legend ($8.50) drawn the rails, James Cummings‘ second-placed mare in The Metrop Zardozi ($7), and Turnbull third placegetter Eliyass ($6.50) for Waterhouse & Bott complete the current single-figure fancies.
| 10. Duke De Sessa (5) J: Harry Coffey52kg 55244T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 2. Buckaroo (7) J: Joao Moreira54.5kg x8112T: Chris Waller | ||
| 8. Land Legend (1) J: Zac Purton53kg 1x061T: Chris Waller | ||
| 13. Zardozi (9) J: Andrea Atzeni51kg x6652T: James Cummings | ||
| 15. Deny Knowledge (14) J: Craig Newitt50.5kg 21x51T: A & S Freedman | ||
| 19. Fancy Man (3) J: Ron Stewart50kg 10x53T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | ||
| 7. Eliyass (18) J: Tim Clark53kg 1x113T: G Waterhouse & A Bott | ||
| 6. Warmonger (13) J: Michael Dee53.5kg 21x40T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | ||
| 16. Valiant King (15) J: Teodore Nugent50.5kg 56x00T: Chris Waller | ||
| 3. Circle Of Fire (10) J: John Allen54.5kg 11x89T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 5. Huetor (6) J: Luke Currie54kg 40x20T: Peter Snowden | ||
| 9. Young Werther (8) J: Jye McNeil52.5kg 62x15T: Danny O'Brien | ||
| 4. Warp Speed (16) J: Akira Sugawara54.5kg x325xT: N Takagi | ||
| 11. Knight's Choice (11) J: Robbie Dolan51.5kg 34x90T: J G Symons & S Laxon | ||
| 14. Coco Sun (17) J: Karis Teetan50.5kg 1x765T: T & C McEvoy | ||
| 18. Sayedaty Sadaty (2) J: Ben Thompson50kg 2253xT: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 1. Kalapour (4) J: Ben Melham55kg 3x486T: Kris Lees | ||
| 20. Berkshire Breeze (12) J: Carleen Hefel50kg 11234T: Ciaron Maher |
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