Gold-standard field
GLENCADAM Gold might be even better racing the Melbourne way of going, but he will need to be to win the strongest Caulfield Cup in years.
The final 18- horse field for Saturday’s $2.5 million race was announced last night and included a record 13 individual Group 1 winners.
Glencadam Gold, the former English stayer and ruling $3.60 Caulfield Cup favourite, galloped impressively at Flemington yesterday morning as trainer Gai Waterhouse dismissed any concerns the gelding might have adjusting to racing anti-clockwise.
‘‘He has worked the reverse way back home plenty of times. I think he is better going the Melbourne direction,’’ Waterhouse said.
Unbeaten in four Australian starts since being transferred to Waterhouse, Glencadam Gold is striving to join Railings (2005) and Tawqeet (2006) as recent winners of the MetropolitanCaulfield Cup double.
But the Caulfield Cup is his toughest test because he is facing an outstanding field of proven, top-class stayers, including: TWO previous Melbourne Cup winners, Americain (2010) and Dunaden (2011) — only the second time in Caulfield Cup history this has happened. SOUTHERN Speed, the 2011 winner, who could become the first mare to win the race twice. GROUP 1 winners from Italy ( Jakkalberry, Voila Ici), and America (Sanagas, Winchester).
The barrier draw will be held at 11am today, and Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter agreed this was one of the best Caulfield Cup fields in memory.
‘‘The 1980 Caulfield Cup when Ming Dynasty defeated Hyperno and Kingston Town was an epic; in 2002, Northerly’s win over Fields Of Omagh was a great renewal; as was 2004 when Elvstroem defeated Makybe Diva,’’ Carpenter said.
‘‘But Saturday’s Caulfield Cup field is probably superior in overall depth. There are 13 individual Group 1 winners of 19 Group 1 races from four continents around the world.’’
Carpenter confirmed this was the first Caulfield Cup to have two Melbourne Cup winners since 1975 when Gala Supreme (1973) and Think Big (1974) ran at Caulfield.
‘‘In 1977, Melbourne Cup winners Van Der Hum, Hyperno and Gold And Black ran in the Caulfield Cup but at that time, only Van Der Hum had already won a Melbourne Cup,’’ he said.
‘‘It was the same in 1942 when Skipton, Colonus and Dark Felt all contested the Caulfield Cup, but only Skipton had won his Melbourne Cup.’’
TAB spokesman Glenn Munsie said Glencadam Gold’s grip on Caulfield Cup favouritism was secure despite a big move for Dunaden, now $7.50.
‘‘I wouldn’t say Glencadam Gold is a false favourite,’’ Munsie said.
‘‘This might be a really good Caulfield Cup field, but no horse in this race has the similar winning formline.
‘‘He has improved with every Australian run, going from a midweek Canterbury win to a Group 1, the Metropolian, in four starts.’’