The 2015 Caulfield Cup barrier draw has been conducted and Mongolian Khan is set to maintain his position at the top of betting after he drew ideally in barrier nine for the Group 1 event that will be held at Caulfield on Saturday.
Royal Descent was the big loser of the 2015 Caulfield Cup barrier draw that was released this afternoon. Photo by: Steve Hart
Mongolian Khan was allocated barrier nine, but he is set to jump from barrier six once the four emergencies are removed and he is set to receive a lovely run into the race with regular jockey Opie Busson in the saddle.
The majority of the leading chances fared well at the Caulfield Cup barrier draw and the likes of Snow Sky (barrier three), Fame Game (barrier one) and Rising Romance (barrier two) are all set to jump from the inside of the field.
The big loser of the barrier draw was consistent mare Royal Descent, who will jump from the outside barrier, while the odds of Our Ivanhowe (barrier 17), Hokko Brave (barrier 19), Lucia Valentina (barrier 20) and Set Square (barrier 16) are set to lengthen after they drew wide.
Click Here For Complete Coverage Of The 2015 Caulfield Cup Barrier Draw
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Earlier
The 2015 Caulfield Cup barrier draw will be conducted this afternoon and connections of all 22 runners still in contention for the $3.15 million race are sweating on the results.
Dunaden won the 2012 edition of the Caulfield Cup from the outside barrier. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
It is accepted wisdom that inside draws are ideal for staying contests, but in fact it is middle draws that have proven to be the most successful in the recent history of the Caulfield Cup.
Barrier nine has produced the past five of the past thirty winners of the Melbourne Cup, with Hayai (1983), Taufan’s Melody (1998), Sky Heights (1999), Northerly (2002) and Railings (2005) all winning from the gate, which makes it the winningest barrier in the modern history of the Caulfield Cup.
Barrier seven has also produced its share of recent winners (Cole Diesel in 1989, Fraar in 1993, Might And Power in 1997 and Admire Rakti last year), but strangely barrier eight has not housed the Caulfield Cup winner in the past 30 years.
Another barrier that is on the end of a lengthy drought is the inside gate and the majority of the 2015 Caulfield Cup field will likely be best served to avoid this gate.
The horse that draws the inside barrier will have the opportunity to find the quickest way around the Caulfield track, but there was no doubting that it was tough to win on the rail on Caulfield Guineas Day and it is possible to get boxed in for a run in the outside gate.
The connections of most horses in the Caulfield Cup will tell you that they are keen to avoid the outside gates, but barriers 15 (Descarado in 2010), 16 (Master O’Reilly in 2007), 17 (Let’s Elope in 1991) and 18 (Lord Reims in 1987 and Dunaden in 2012) have all housed the winners of the Caulfield Cup in recent years.
There does not appear to be a great deal of natural speed in the 2015 Caulfield Cup – although a handicap event with a big field generally produces its own tempo – and jockey that draws an outside barrier may elect to cross the field on his mount and take up the running in the early stages of the race.
We will bring you the updated 2015 Caulfield Cup odds when the barrier draw is conducted this afternoon, but at this stage Australian Derby winner Mongolian Khan ($4.80) is currently a clear favourite with Ladbrokes from Japanese stayer Fame Game ($8.50), Godolphin-owned Hauraki ($8.50), Crown Oaks winner Set Square ($9), fellow Japanese stayer Hokko Brave ($11) and last year’s placegetter Rising Romance ($13).
The Caulfield Cup is the feature race this weekend and you can receive Best Tote or Starting Price plus 20% with leading online bookmaker Ladbrokes.
