With a field of 17 declared for Saturday's A$3-million G1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), it appears likely that the international raiders are the ones to take note of this year.
After a slashing first-up run in Australia when beaten narrowly by Gailo Chop (Fr) (Deportivo {GB}) in the G1 Caulfield S. on Oct. 14, race favourite Johannes Vermeer (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is out to give trainer Aidan O'Brien his first success in the staying contest. A Group 1 winner over 1400m as a juvenile in the Saint-Cloud Criterium International, the Ben Melham-ridden Johannes Vermeer has backed up twice within the space of 11 days in the past, winning both times, and with the quick turn-around of seven days being a major concern here, the 5-year-old is a worthy favourite, although many of the other internationals hold appeal.
Impressive when capturing the G2 Prix Kergorlay on Aug. 20, Hugh Bowman's mount Marmelo (GB) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) by all accounts has been working extremely well at Werribee, and although he may be better suited by the 3200m of the G1 Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November, the lightly raced entire could be the one at very good odds to take the prize. A winner first-up on Apr. 30 in the Prix de Barbeville, having not started since the October of the previous year, Marmelo's victory over 3000m at Group 3 level by 2 1/2 lengths indicates he is a galloper of quality and although he does have to carry second top weight of 55kgs, it is still a drop on the 59 he carried in his Prix Kergorlay performance.
Two mares have recorded victory in the race in the last six years and with four running on Saturday, all appear to have very good chances headed by dual Oaks winner Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) and last-start G3 Bart Cummings S. winner Amelie's Star (Aus) (Testa Rossa {Aus}). Pulling up lame in last Saturday's G1 Caulfield S., but since cleared by the vet, Bonneval has been one of the leading players in the betting ahead of the race, and with two wins from two attempts at 2400m, the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained mare appears to have an undeniable chance, especially with the added bonus of the in-form Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle.
Darren Weir, Craig Williams and 51kgs–Amelie's Star has a lot of positives going for her leading into the race and with three starts at 2400m-plus, the mare has been victorious on each occasion, highlighting that if the top weights start to struggle when the whips are cracking, she will be more than capable of toughing it out.
A winner of the G1 ATC Derby in April, Jon Snow (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) gives the formidable Baker and Forsman team an outstanding 'second stringer' to Bonneval. Third in the G1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) behind Gingernuts (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), a victory in the G2 Tulloch S. (2000m) proceeded his ATC Derby win where he defeated Hardham (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}), who he will oppose on Saturday, into third. The entire is ready to show his best now up to the 2400m.
Having been racing in Australia since May, the David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained Ventura Storm (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) proved in the G1 Turnbull S. on Oct. 7 with his second to Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) that he's crying out for the 2400m and with a Group 1 victory under his belt at the trip, a win by the 5-year-old would be the first for the Hayes family since Tawqeet (Kingmambo) took the prize in 2006.
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