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Meydaan, an English horse with foreign form lines, looms as the biggest threat to Jamie Melham’s history-making bid to become the first woman to ride the winner of the $5 million Caulfield Cup.
UK raider Meydaan has been preparing for the Caulfield Cup at Werribee.Credit: Getty Images
Meydaan is rated the runner most likely to topple Melham’s red-hot favourite Half Yours in Saturday’s 2400m handicap event on the back of his third in the group 3 September Stakes over 2412m at Kempton Park, England.
The Age dissects the Caulfield Cup field to rate the leading chances:
Race 9: $5m Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), 5.15pm
The favourite: Half Yours catapulted into favouritism after winning the group 3 Naturalism Stakes last month and franked that form with a flashing-light fourth in the Turnbull Stakes. Drops to 52.5kg and has drawn gate two. A big chance for Jamie Melham to land a major group 1. The horse has been in work since March.
The threats: UK import Meydaan (56kg) has been targeted at this race on the back of solid UK form. Gate five is a big plus, the booking of international jockey Andrea Atzeni is a worry. Ciaron Maher-trained Royal Supremacy (52.5kg) has rocketed into contention after winning The Metropolitan and will be partnered by the singing jockey Robbie Dolan. Not sure about The Metrop as a form race. Punters have also supported Vauban (58.5kg), a former Irish stayer now in the hands of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, who ran fifth behind Royal Supremacy.
The roughies: If we think that the Turnbull Stakes is the best lead-up race, then consideration has to go to Deakin (54kg) and Middle Earth (56.5kg) who finished sixth and ninth in that race. Don’t discard Japanese mare Golden Snap (53.5kg), while Adelaide River (54kg) has the potential to lead and pinch the race.
Caulfield Cup tips: 1st Meydaan (No.4), 2nd Half Yours (No.15), 3rd Middle Earth (No.3), 4th Deakin (No.10)
Russell says: English trainers Simon and Ed Crisford have proven they know the right horse to bring to Australia. Their stable says Meydaan is a stayer on the up.
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Half Yours wins a race at Rosehill earlier this year.Credit: Getty Images
Caulfield Cup trifecta play: 3, 4, 10, 15 - 3, 4, 8, 10, 11, 15, 16 - 3, 4, 8, 10, 11, 15, 16
Russell’s best: (Race 8, No.2) – Private Eye is good enough to be lining up in The Everest, so should be winning at Caulfield.
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Russell’s next best: Apocalyptic (Race 7, No.1) – The Mitch Freedman-trained filly is the shortest favourite on the card, but will anchor a lot of quaddies.
Cup day quaddie: 1st leg: 1, 3; 2nd leg: 2; 3rd leg: 3, 4, 10, 15; 4th leg: 1, 2, 5, 10.
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