The Final Field for the 2019 Caulfield Cup has been released and there are quite a few horses we haven’t seen race before in Australia or haven’t been seen in awhile. We take a look at those horses and give race replays, comments and information on each of them.
Here at Justhorseracing, we’ve put together a preview of the International horses in this years Caulfield Cup.
Caulfield Cup 🏆: View the latest Caulfield Cup odds
Mustajeer
Breeding: Medicean x Qelaan
Trainer: Kris Lees
Nationality: British/Australian
Career Stats: 19: 4-3-3
Min/Max Distance Wins: 1600m/2787m
Career Best Win: Ebor Handicap, August 24 2019, York, Good Surface
Dry Track Stats: 11: 1-2-2
Wet Track Stats: 8: 3-1-1
Target Race(s): Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup
Short Summary: High up in the Melbourne Cup market. I have my doubts.
Curragh Cup (2800m), June 28 2019, Curragh, Clockwise Direction, Good Surface
This race produced the 2017 Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling and the 2019 edition of the Curragh Cup looks like it will have an influence on the 2019 Melbourne Cup with several runners potentially heading to Melbourne from this race, including Mustajeer, who ran fifth but in another stride he runs third and I thought it was an excellent run in a high class race. The subsequent form has seen 13 runs for two wins, the two wins coming from Melbourne Cup aspirants Latrobe and Southern France.
To view this replay click here.
Ebor Handicap (2787m), August 24 2019, York, Anti-Clockwise Direction, Good Surface
Gee this was a ripping steer from Colin Keane. The track pattern said outside fence was the place to be, so he cut the corner and saved plenty of ground before eventually finding better ground out wide and he found plenty under pressure to score and confirmed his ticket to Melbourne for the big Handicaps. The subsequent form has seen 12 runs for two wins, Withold winning a Listed race at Newmarket and Weekender winning a three horse handicap at Salisbury.
To view this replay click here.
Mirage Dancer
Breeding: Frankel x Heat Haze
Trainer: Trent Busuttin/Natalie Young
Nationality: Australian/British
Career Stats: 16: 4-5-3
Min/Max Distance Wins: 1408m/2412m
Career Best Win: Glorious Stakes, August 3 2018, Goodwood, Firm Surface
Dry Track Stats: 13: 4-4-2
Wet Track Stats: 3: 0-1-1
Target Race(s): Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup
Short Summary: Looks to be going better in 2019 compared to last year.
Hardwicke Stakes (2406m), June 22 2019, Royal Ascot, Clockwise Direction, Good Surface
Really good effort from him here in a time honoured race. Sat outside a moderate speed before forcing the issue around 1000m from home and looked to travel well. Just lacked the turn of foot to go with Defoe but stuck to the task well enough and that form does ready very well. The subsequent form has seen 16 runs for 3 wins, highlighted by the last placed horse Communique beating Mirage Dancer at Newmarket next start.
To view this replay click here.
Glorious Stakes (2412m), August 2 2019, Goodwood, Clockwise Direction, Good Surface
He comfortably saw off Prince Of Arran, but in turn just gave the perfect drag up to an in form Desert Encounter and it was just a matter of pushing the button for that horse, who went straight past Mirage Dancer, but no disgrace running second to that high quality stayer. Subsequent form reads very well with Desert Encounter winning a Group l in Canada recently and Prince Of Arran running well in the Herbert Power.
To view this replay click here.
Constantinople
Breeding: Galileo x One Moment In Time
Trainer: Hayes/Dabernig
Nationality: Australian/British
Career Stats: 8: 2-4-1
Min/Max Distance Wins: 1609m/2000m
Career Best Win: Gallinule, May 24 2019, Curragh, Good Surface
Dry Track Stats: 7: 2-3-1
Wet Track Stats: 1: 0-1-0
Target Race(s): Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup
Short Summary: They’ve forked out the coin. Now he needs to repay that faith and confidence.
Gordon Stakes (2400m), August 1 2019, Goodwood, Clockwise Direction, Good Surface
Talk about throwing a race away. Had this race won but as soon as pressure was applied, he wanted to wander all over the place, losing momentum while doing that, and in turn gave Nayef Road the win, who was doing everything right in front and proved too good. The subsequent form has seen 14 runs for 3 wins, the best of which being a Group ll win by the sixth place horse at Longchamp.
To view this replay click here.
Great Voltigeur Stakes (2385m), August 21 2019, York, Anti-Clockwise Direction, Good Surface
He comfortably beat the rest of the field, but was no match for Logician, who is the next big thing to come out of the UK and confirmed that in mid September when winning the St Leger. Running second to him is certainly nothing to be sneezed at, but again, he wanted to do a bit wrong when under pressure. Logician is a star, and won the St Leger next start, and the third place horse has won a Group lll at Leopardstown.
To view this replay click here.
Gold Mount
Breeding: Excellent Art x Dolcetto
Trainer: Ian Williams
Nationality: British
Career Stats: 29: 8-5-3
Min/Max Distance Wins: 1600m/2816m
Career Best Win: Ebor Grand Cup, June 15 2019, York, Good Surface
Dry Track Stats: 27: 7-5-3
Wet Track Stats: 2: 1-0-0
Target Race(s): Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup
Short Summary: Globe trotter specifically set for the Melbourne Cup
Ebor Grand Cup (2816m), June 15 2019, York, Anti-Clockwise Direction, Good Surface
First run for Ian Williams after formerly being based in Hong Kong with Richard Gibson, where there are no 3200m races, so connections sent him to Williams to target the Melbourne Cup and this was first up. Dominant win, but the overall form since has been ordinary. No subsequent winners, though there has been a couple of decent placings.
To view this replay click here.
Silver Cup (2816m), July 13 2019, York, Anti-Clockwise Direction, Good Surface
What a ripping finish this was, with three runners slogging it out. Red Verdon had the drop just off the speed and was given a lovely ride to win, digging in deep to fend off Gold Mount, who was very game in defeat. Couple of winners to come out of this race.
To view this replay click here.
Red Verdon
Breeding: Lemon Drop Kid x Porto Marmay
Trainer: Ed Dunlop
Nationality: British
Career Stats: 31: 7-9-1
Min/Max Distance Wins: 1738m/2816m
Career Best Win: Silver Cup, July 13 2019, York, Good Surface
Dry Track Stats: 21: 5-6-1
Wet Track Stats: 10: 2-3-0
Target Race(s): Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup
Short Summary: Better horse since being gelded…better enough to win a Melbourne Cup?
Silver Cup (2816m), July 13 2019, York, Anti-Clockwise Direction, Good Surface
Race was set up ideally for him given the fast pace. Had the cold sit on those in front before angling into clear air and finishing best in a tight go to get the win. Strength of the form has been okay-ish, with a couple of winners to come out of it.
To view this replay click here.
Ebor Handicap (2787m), August 24 2019, York, Anti-Clockwise Direction, Good Surface
Similar to the Silver Cup. He had things to suit. Sat off what was a good gallop and was there to pounce. Dashed for a few strides but then was out of petrol tickets around 300m from home and paddled late to run a distant and well held 14th. The subsequent form has seen 12 runs for two wins, Withold winning a Listed race at Newmarket and Weekender winning a three horse handicap at Salisbury.
To view this replay click here.
Mer De Glace
Breeding: Rulership x Glacier Blue
Trainer: Hisashi Shimizu
Nationality: Japanese
Career Stats: 17: 7-2-5
Min/Max Distance Wins: 2000m/2200m
Career Best Win: Kokura Kinen, August 4 2019, Kokura, Firm Surface
Dry Track Stats: 16: 7-2-5
Wet Track Stats: 1: 0-0-0
Target Race(s): Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup
Short Summary: Beware the Japanense horse with a picket fence next to his name
Daishoten (2000m), April 29 2019, Niigata, Anti-Clockwise Direction, Firm Surface
This was his first test at Group level and he passed with flying colours under a lovely ride from Damian Lane, who had him parked just off the speed before peeling wider and being patient before pushing the button and the horse kicked on strongly to get the win, his third on the bounce.
To view this replay click here.
Kokura Kinen (2000m), August 4 2019, Kokura, Clockwise Direction, Firm Surface
Was a lovely steer from Kawada. Just parked him back in the run before getting the perfect drag up into the race and his turn of foot came to the fore when it was needed and he won. The little query I have is the second horse Cadenas should have won IMO. He ran second to Suzuka Devious earlier this year and that horse, for the most part, has been struggling, so hard to be jumping up and down about this as a form reference.
To view this replay click here.
Prince Of Arran (Emergency)
Breeding: Shirocco x Stormng Sioux
Trainer: Charlie Fellowes
Nationality: British
Career Stats: 36: 5-8-4
Min/Max Distance Wins: 1600m/3200m
Career Best Win: Lexus Stakes, November 3 2018, Flemington, Good Surface
Dry Track Stats: 28: 5-7-3
Wet Track Stats: 7: 0-1-1
Target Race(s): Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup
Short Summary: Got some good form behind world class horses…he’s in the game off the Lexus win.
Melbourne Cup (3200m), November 6 2018, Flemington, Anti-Clockwise Direction, Heavy Surface
He was mighty in defeat. Another that hit the front too early and jockey Michael Walker did say that post race. Wish he just waited a touch longer to push the button and believes he would have won if he had done that. His best form is on dry ground but this was a clear career best on a near bottomless surface and it took a couple of high class stayers to get past him.
To view the replay click here.
September Stakes (2419m), September 7 2019, Kempton Park, Clockwise Direction, Synthetic Surface
His opening few runs for the year were concerning, but he showed something positive here in a race that included Caulfield Cup winner Best Solution. Got the split via the cutaway and stuck on well for third in what looked an okay race on paper, nothing deep re class, but it was good to see him run better as he heads to Melbourne again. Subsequent form out of this race has seen eight runs for one win, a Listed race won by the fifth place horse Mountain Hunter. Ninth place horse Pivonie ran third to subsequent Group l winner Desert Encounter in a Group lll.
To view the replay click here.
Herbert Power (2400m), October 12 2019, Caulfield, Anti-Clockwise Direction, Good Surface
This confirmed he loves racing down under. Very good in defeat but at the same time, gut wrenching for Fellowes because a win would have assured him a start in the Melbourne Cup. The stop/start tempo Haky set was against him. If they kept rolling from the outset, I think Prince Of Arran gets the win. Still very good in defeat.
To view the replay click here.
True Self (Emergency)
Breeding: Oscar x Good Thought
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Nationality: Irish
Career Stats: 18: 8-4-0
Min/Max Distance Wins: 2012m/3255m
Career Best Win: Tipple Stakes, May 8 2019, Gowran Park, Soft Surface
Dry Track Stats: 6: 2-1-0
Wet Track Stats: 12: 6-3-0
Target Race(s): Melbourne Cup
Short Summary: Dismiss Willie Mullins at your peril
Tipple Stakes (2816m), May 8 2019, Gowran Park, Clockwise Direction, Soft Surface
Was a lovely ride by Colin Keane, tracking the speed most of the way before angling into clear air, finding the best ground, and the mare showed good change up speed to win comfortably, and with something in hand on the line. The concern is that the subsequent form has been awful.
To view this replay click here.
Ebor Handicap (2787m), August 24 2019, York, Anti-Clockwise Direction, Good Surface
She was brave in defeat. Had to cover additional ground without cover in what was a fast run race. Was there at the 300m mark but the work mid race just told on her late and she tired to run sixth, but was far from disgraced. The subsequent form has seen 12 runs for two wins, Withold winning a Listed race at Newmarket and Weekender winning a three horse handicap at Salisbury.
To view this replay click here.