The 2015 Caulfield Cup first acceptances have been released and 114 stayers remain in contention for the Group 1 event that will be held at Caulfield on October 17.
Complacent is one of 113 stayers that has been included in the 2015 Caulfield Cup first acceptances. Photo by: Steve Hart
Snow Sky and Protectionist were both allocated the top weight of 58 kilograms when the Caulfield Cup weights were released a week ago and both stayers have been included in the Caulfield Cup first acceptances, but they are no certainties to take their place in the field.
Protectionist returned to racing with a credible effort in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday and he is set to continue to build towards the Melbourne Cup in Sydney before he potentially returns to Melbourne for the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield on October 10.
Connections confirmed last week that Snow Sky will make the trip to Australia, but trainer Sir Michael Stoute does not plan on giving the Hardwicke Stakes winner a lead-up run before the Melbourne Cup.
One international stayer that remains on track to contest the 2015 Caulfield Cup is Fame Game, who was included in the first acceptances that were released this afternoon.
Fame Game has been one of the best-backed runners in betting markets for both the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup and he will bring extremely strong form into both races after he finished a close second behind Gold Ship in the Group 1 Tenno Sho (3200m) at Kyoto on May 3.
Godolphin have not won the Caulfield Cup since All The Good scored an upset win in the 2008 edition of the race, but they could have a strong hand in the race this year after they included Complacent, Contributer, Hartnell, Hauraki, Havana Cooler and It’s Somewhat in the first acceptances.
Hartnell and Contributer were both expected to head towards the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25, but those plans could change after they both suffered first-up defeats on Saturday, while Complacent is now a genuine contender for the race after he took out the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) in just his second race start in almost two years.
Chris Waller is still chasing his first race win in the Caulfield Cup, but he could have big numbers in the race after the likes of Beaten Up, Foreteller, Grand Marshal, Hawkspur, Junoob, Moriarty, Opinion, Royal Descent, Silverball, Weary and Who Shot Thebarman were all included in the first acceptances.
Mongolian Khan, Alpine Eagle, Bohemian Lily, Dandino, Dibayani, Excess Knowledge, Gust Of Wind, Hi World, Lucia Valentina, Let’s Make Adeal, May’s Dream, Our Ivanhowe, Precedence, Orbec, Ruling Dynasty, Rising Romance, Set Square, Trip To Paris and Volkstok’n’barrell are among the other notable horses in the Caulfield Cup first acceptances.
