Back Yourself!
Sign-up and start betting with Ladbrokes in 2 minutes!
Back A Winner with Neds!
Sign-up and start betting with Neds in 2 minutes!
Daily Racing Specials!
Sign-up and bet with Australia's best new bookmaker!
#1 Ranked New Bookie
Sign-up and bet with Australia's #1 ranked new bookmaker!
Best Of The Best Odds!
Bet With Palmerbet and get Paid Top Fluc or Top Tote!
Massive Odds on All Races!
Sign-up and start betting with PlayUp in 2 minutes!
Imagine what you could be buying instead.
Set a deposit limit.
Search
 

The autumn record of recent Caulfield Cup winners isn’t too flash but trainer Leon Macdonald is confident Southern Speed can buck the trend.

The four-year-old takes the first steps of her ambitious campaign next week at the Australia Day meeting at Caulfield.

Macdonald, who trains in partnership in Adelaide with his son in law Andrew Gluyas, is not expecting too much from the mare in the Listed John Dillon Stakes (1400m) but the race is an important springboard.

“Being a handicap she will get a lot of weight, Macdonald said.

“And her first-up record is not conclusive but she’s got to start somewhere and it fits in with her campaign.

“Everything is going along nicely. She looks a million dollars and has dappled right up.

“After the Dillon all her races will be at weight-for-age.”

Southern Speed won the Caulfield Cup at her sixth start in what was only her second preparation.

She had a few weeks off in a paddock in Victoria, retaining her residual fitness on the water walker, and returned to Morphettville in December.

After the John Dillon, Southern Speed will contest the Group One C F Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 11 then step up to 1800 metres two weeks later in the Group Two St George Stakes before the Australian Cup (2000m) on March 10.

All going well, Macdonald plans to take her to Sydney for the Rosehill feature Group One double of the Ranvet Stakes (2000m) on March 24 and the BMW (2400m) on April 7.

The only Caulfield Cup winner in the past 20 years to come back in the autumn and take out the Australian Cup is Northerly in 2002-03 with Let’s Elope achieving the feat in 1991-92.

You need to go back to 1957-58 and Tulloch to find the last Caulfield Cup winner to win the Ranvet although Might And Power came close in 1998 when beaten by the Macdonald-trained three-year-old Gold Guru before turning the tables in the BMW, while dual Cups winner Ethereal won the BMW in 2002.

While Southern Speed has a long way to go before she can be compared to horses of the calibre of Northerly and Might And Power, Macdonald has no doubts she can withstand the rigours of her planned campaign.

“It’s six starts, that’s not too many,” he said.

AAP TURF

 
*Existing customers only. 2nd Racing bet. Excl SA & WA. T’s & C’s apply. Gamble responsibly.
Imagine what you could be buying instead.
Set a deposit limit.
Featured News

FREE BETS – Claim $1000’s in Bonus Bets at the TOP Betting Sites

We take a look at the BIGGEST and BEST Free Daily Racing Offers and Betting Promotions from Australia’s leading online...

Golden Slipper Likely Field – 2024

The biggest two-year-old race of the year will jump this Saturday in arguably one of the best fields in recent...

Former trainer handed a five-year ban for pulling stewards pants down

Former trainer Todd Balfour has been handed a five-year disqualification by Racing SA stewards after a misconduct incident at the...

Melbourne Cup champion Verry Elleegant passes away

Verry Elleegant, one of the great mares in the history of Australian racing, has died while giving birth to her...

Watch 📺 Jockey banned from all racing premises over ride

Jockey Dylan Kitts has been penalised with a disciplinary officer exclusion directive due to non-compliance with an inquiry regarding his...

Group 1 winner returns positive swab

Racing Victoria stewards are investigating a positive swab from Group 1-winning mare Prowess, the racehorse trained by Roger James and...

Alligator Blood injured, career in doubt

Cult galloper Alligator Blood may have run his last race, with trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott confirming the star galloper had...

Nikita Beriman returns to the saddle

July 1, 2023 to January 26, 2024 … that period represents the just shy of seven months that Nikita Beriman...

Australia's Best Betting Sites

New Betting Sites Australia + Top List Bookmaker Apps $$$

Betting in Australia has never been more popular thanks to a large increase in new betting Agencies and Apps available...

Top 10 – Funniest Race Horse Names

Horse racing. Known as the ‘Sport Of Kings’, an industry worth billions, a very serious business…but to some, it’s a...

Best Horse Betting Sites in Australia

Best Horse Racing Betting Apps and Betting Sites – March 2024

We take a look at the best online betting apps to bet on horse racing in Australia for the month...

Golden Slipper

The Golden Slipper is one of the biggest and most prestigious horse races in Australia. Taking place each April at...

Australian Bookmaker Reviews – Online Bookie Ratings $$

Which bookmaker should you bet with? We Review each of the leading online Australian Bookmakers and rate them in order...

 
 
Imagine what you could be buying instead.
For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au