THE $3 MILLION CAULFIELD CUP – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
HISTORY: First run in 1879 when won by Newminster, the Caulfield Cup is a 2400m handicap and 18 years younger than the Melbourne Cup.
* The first $1 million Cup was in 1996 when Arctic Scent was successful.
THE BIGGEST NAMES TO WIN: Poseidon (1906, 1907), Amounis (1930), Rogilla (1932), The Trump (1937), Skipton (1943), Rising Fast (1954, 1955), Redcraze (1956), Tulloch (1957), Even Stevens (1962), Galilee (1966), Tobin Bronze (1967), Ming Dynasty (1977, 1980), Gurner’s Lane (1982), Let’s Elope (1991), Doriemus (1995), Might And Power (1997), Ethereal (2001), Northerly (2002), Elvstroem (2004), Viewed (2009) and Dunaden (2012).
THIS YEAR’S FIELD: A full field of 18 plus four emergencies headed by last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist and English horse Snow Sky who both carry 58kg.
Last year Admire Rakti became Japan’s first Caulfield Cup winner and Fame Game and Hokko Brave have come to try for a repeat.
New Zealander Mongolian Khan is the early favourite to hold off the northern hemisphere challenge which includes English horses Snow Sky and Trip To Paris.
TALKING POINTS:
* Horses to complete the Caulfield-Melbourne Cups double in the same year are Poseidon (1906), The Trump (1937), Rivette (1939), Rising Fast (1954), Even Stevens (1962), Galilee (1966), Gurner’s Lane (1982), Let’s Elope (1991), Doriemus (1995), Might And Power (1997) and Ethereal (2001).
* Dual Caulfield Cup winners: Ming Dynasty (1977, 1980), Rising Fast (1954-55), Whittier (1922, 1925), Uncle Sam (1912, 1914,) Poseidon (1906-07), Hymettus (1898, 1901) and Paris (1892, 1894).
* The late Bart Cummings holds the Caulfield Cup record of seven wins with Galilee (1966), Big Philou (1969), Leilani (1974), Ming Dynasty (1977, 1980), Let’s Elope (1991) and Viewed (2009).
* Shortest-priced winner: Tulloch (4-6 in 1957).
* Shortest-priced loser: Tobin Bronze (8-11 when sixth to Galilee in 1966)
* Longest-priced winner: Saint Warden (100-1 in 1943).
* European-trained horses have competed since 1998 with three winners – Taufan’s Melody (1998), All The Good (2008) and Dunaden who won a year after he took the Melbourne Cup.
* The 1992 Cup remains one of the most controversial with Shane Dye steering favourite Veandercross wide on the home turn to get better ground. The NZ horse failed by a short half head to reel in Mannerism but Dye remains adamant he made the right decision.
KEY COMMENTS
“It’s been a while since I won my last one. It’s not an easy race to win, it is always a highly competitive race and Snow Sky gives me a good chance” – four-time winner Damien Oliver whose last win was in 1999 on Sky Heights.
“It’s a great barrier. We jump, sit and let him hold his position. Hopefully we’ll be just in behind the leaders” – handler Robin Trevor-Jones on the Ed Dunlop-trained Trip To Paris.
“He’s a really good horse and he’s got the ability to win the Caulfield Cup and if the race is run to suit he’s going to get his chance, but I feel he’s going to be better when he gets to 3200 metres” – Fame Game’s jockey Zac Purton.
THE TRACK:
* The track has a triangular shaped layout and a 2080m circumference. The 2400m start is in the home straight.
