Favourite Draws Well For Caulfield Cup
Wednesday, 15 October 2008:  | | Photo by Racing and Sports |
The Nigel Blackiston-trained gelding broke through for a long overdue win last start and the success elevated him to favourite for Saturday's feature race.
A relieved Blackiston pulled out barrier 10 in the 22 horse line-up where he will be ridden by Steven King, shooting for his second Caulfield Cup after winning on Let's Elope in 1991.
Second favourite Weekend Hussler drew alongside Littorio in barrier 11, with trainer Ross McDonald believing he can turn around his last start eighth in the Turnbull Stakes.
We have just forgotten about last start, McDonald said at the barrier draw.
He's progressed and trained on well. He's as fit as hands can make him and if we have a bit of luck he'll be in the finish.
David Hayes had mixed fortunes with his three runners, Kibbutz and Zagreb drawing barriers five and seven respectively, while Guillotine drew 21.
Last year's winner Master O'Reilly, prepared by Danny O'Brien, drew barrier 13 while stablemate Douro Valley has barrier three.
International gallopers also had mixed fortunes, with Mad Rush drawing 17 while All The Good drew barrier eight.
Following the draw TAB Sportsbet left the top three in betting as they were Littorio at $5.00, Weekend Hussler at $6.00 and Master O'Reilly at $6.50.
Guillotine drifted a point to $8.50 after drawing wide, while Douro Valley and Boundless tightened slightly from good draws.
Maldivian eased after drawing wide in gate 18.
$2.5 million CAULFIELD CUP
Group 1. 2400 Metres
Weights Raised 1.5
1 Weekend Hussler (Ross McDonald) B Rawiller 57.0 11
2 Maldivian (Mark Kavanagh) M Rodd 56.5 18
3 Master O'Reilly (Danny O'Brien) V Duric 56.5 13
4 Fiumicino (Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes) 66.0 4
5 Kibbutz (David Hayes) N Rawiller 55.5 5
6 Nom du Jeu (Murray Baker) J Lloyd 55.5 20
7 Mad Rush (Luca Cumani) D Oliver 55.0 17
8 All the Good (Saeed Bin Suroor) K McEvoy 54.5 8
9 Douro Valley (Danny O'Brien) J M Winks 54.5 3
10 Ice Chariot (Ron Maund) G Schofield 54.5 2
11 Viewed (Bart Cummings) B Shinn 54.5 14
12 Littorio (Nigel Blackiston) Steven King 54.0 10
13 Red Ruler (John Sargent) C Brown 54.0 1
14 Boundless (Stephen Mckee) D Dunn 53.5 6
15 Dolphin Jo ( Terry & Karina O'Sullivan) Ms C Lindop 53.0 12
16 Riva San (Peter G Moody) L Nolen 53.0 9
17 Zagreb (David Hayes) G Boss 52.0 7
18 Guillotine (David Hayes) C Williams 51.5 21
EMERGENCIES (In order)
19 Barbaricus (Danny O'Brien) 52.0 22
20 Newport (Paul Perry) P Wells(a) 53.0 16
21 Red Lord (Anthony Cummings) 53.0 19
22 Moatize (Bart Cummings) C D Symons 51.5 15
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