Each Thursday, Information Corp Australia’s nationwide racing editor Matt Williams and senior racing author Ben Dorries chat all issues horse racing.
MW: Benny, it’d be flawed to begin our Caulfield Cup column with out a trumpet, wouldn’t it? We each had Assume About It clearly on prime in The Everest. We had loads of individuals calling us … nicely, silly … however shock, shock we didn’t get many texts after the race. The silence was deafening. Rediener one week, Gold Journey the following and Assume About It final week. This column is a bona fide fill-up, I inform ya!
BD: One thing for the battlers. Joe Satisfaction is likely one of the genuinely good racing blokes and I really like how he’s a straight shooter and likewise has plenty of enjoyable alongside the way in which. Bear in mind when he famously coined the phrase WBS (World’s Greatest Sprinter) for Terravista. After which ‘WBS II’ in relation to Eduardo. Each probability he actually does have the world’s finest sprinter — or near it — with Assume About It.
MW: A fast phrase on Everest and Caulfield Guineas day. Australian racing was the winner. Full cease. Finish of story. The Everest was massive final 12 months however now it’s actually massive. And it’s solely getting greater.
BD: Simply wait till The Everest day subsequent 12 months when King Charles III lobs and the in-field is opened for an much more rambunctious celebration.
MW: Onto the Caulfield Cup. The Melbourne Racing Membership is a superb, progressive membership however they should do one thing concerning the Coongy Cup being a poll exempt race for the Caulfield Cup on the Wednesday. It means punters have to attend till 6pm for the barrier draw — eight hours after the opposite fields for the assembly have been launched. It ought to return to what it was once. Unveil the Caulfield Cup discipline and barrier draw on the Tuesday to generate extra wagering, extra media protection and extra pleasure. It’s a no brainer.
BD: The Coongy is a speaking level within the inside sanctum racing bubble in Melbourne, however most common Aussies don’t give two hoots. Barrier draw occasions nowadays — until it’s jockeys leaping out of planes or drones flying by means of the night time sky — don’t actually seize individuals. Subsequent Tuesday’s Cox Plate barrier draw is an exception due to the terrific theatre of connections choosing whichever limitations they need one-by-one. Bear in mind Gai with Extra Joyous in 2012?
MW: Yep, and so does Singo. I’m tremendous, tremendous, tremendous (did I say tremendous?) eager on Soulcombe within the Caulfield Cup — much more so from his comfortable barrier which will help offset his tardiness out of the gates. He’s clearly the one to beat. He’s had an ideal preparation for the 2400m, he drops 2½kg on his Turnbull run, he’s acquired an excellent coach, nice jockey, he’s able to peak fourth up and he appeared superb at Caulfield trackwork on Tuesday morning. There are such a lot of ticks. After all, he’ll most probably settle within the second half of the sphere however the Caulfield Cup is a race you’ll be able to win from the again, supplied there’s a stable sufficient tempo and you will get rolling with clear air from the 800m. There’s loads of horses (roadblocks) making up the numbers on this race. Craig Williams simply has to maintain him out of bother.
BD: You’ve acquired rocks in your head. If you wish to again a horse that at all times misses the beginning across the tight Caulfield monitor, then you’re sillier than I believed. Worldwide raider West Wind Blows is the winner. He was terrific within the Turnbull and needed to do his share of labor having his first outing Down Beneath. It was an exquisite Caulfield Cup trial which stood out on stalks and now he has drawn a candy barrier.
MW: Re: Soulcombe being sluggish out of the gates. Final time I checked the race was over 2400m — not 240m. West Wind Blows was nice, little doubt, however Jamie Spencer and first time round Caulfield are two negatives for me. He additionally had fairly a troublesome run within the Turnbull so he must bounce out of that and again it up with a peak efficiency on Saturday. Gold Journey and With out A Combat are the primary risks to Soulcombe. As at all times, it’s exhausting to line up the Japanese type however Breakup is clearly good on his day and needs to be revered. I can’t see something exterior of these 5 horses preventing out the end. The market has acquired it proper.
BD: The very best of these at double-figure odds is Francesco Guardi. He was OK within the Turnbull however lastly will get as much as his candy spot distance sensible. Has an inexpensive jockey too, a bloke by the title of James McDonald. J-Mac is an excellent probability of including his first Caulfield Cup to a bulging trophy cupboard. A large barrier isn’t ideally suited however I’ve full religion in J-Mac.
MW: Francesco Guardi may run prime eight if he’s fortunate. A ultimate phrase on Kovalica. He was monumental within the King Charles to get as shut as he did from final (final 600m in 33.01 seconds). It’s disappointing he’s not within the Cox Plate as a result of he was a dwell probability, however the Golden Eagle is value $10 million, in opposition to his personal age and he can win the Cox Plate subsequent 12 months. Given how nicely he’s going, if he attracts a gate he wins. In his previous seven runs, he’s drawn 12, 10, 12, 4 (Queensland Derby demolition), 8, 7 (slim second within the Epsom) and 14 which have impacted his potential to settle nearer.
BD: Who am I to query Chris Waller, however Kovalica appears to be screaming out for greater than 1600m and now will drop again 100m. I do know the Golden Eagle discipline may drop away a bit, however I actually thought he may give the Cox Plate a mighty shake. Plus, I backed him to win an island within the Bahamas within the Cox Plate. One more betting ticket that’s confetti.
Initially revealed as 2023 Caulfield Cup: Soulcombe ‘clearly the one to beat’ in $5 million race
