A wide barrier will fully test Tally‘s chances of winning the Group 1 $3m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Tally, above, will have to overcome a wide barrier in the Caulfield Cup at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The John O’Shea trained Tally, who will carry the Godophin royal blue colours, came up with barrier nineteen when the final Caulfield Cup field of eighteen plus two emergencies was released on Tuesday but will jump from seventeen when the field is trimmed back to eighteen runners on Saturday morning.
O’Shea is happy with the way the Godolphin owned stayer has progressed throughout the Spring but admits that the horror barrier drew will go against the chances of Tally in the Caulfield Cup.
“We can’t do anything about it, we’ll just go out and do what we can,” O’Shea said.
O’Shea is banking on Tally’s staying ability to help him get amongst the prizemoney and said that he has worked well since finishing third last start, six and a half lengths behind Hartnell, in the Group 1 $500,000 Yellowglen Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 2.
Caulfield Cup favourite Jameka was runner up to Hartnell, finishing three and a quarter lengths in front of Tally.
“He has a lot of ground to make up on horses like Jameka who finished in front of him in the Turnbull, but he’s in very good order and he’ll appreciate a bit of cut in the ground,” O’Shea said.
“Even though he looked well held at the finish, his run was very honest and very good.”
“He did a nice piece of work at Flemington on Tuesday morning and he goes into the race as good as he can be and the step up to 2400m will suit him.”
Tally was racing in the best form of his career during the Autumn Carnival this year as a three year old with four wins on the trot which included wins in the Group 2 $200,000 Ladbrokes Caulfield Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield and in the Group 2 $200,000 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at Moonee Valley.
O’Shea then shifted his attention to the Sydney Autumn Carnival with Tally who ran third behind Tavago and Jameka in the Group 1 $2m BMW Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick.
Tally has been a big drifter in Caulfield Cup betting since the barrier draw and is now marked at $18 with Ladbrokes.com.au who have the Ciaron Maher trained Jameka at the top of the market order at $3.60.
English stayer Scottish who will also carry the Godolphin royal blue colours is well in contention at $7.50 just ahead of the Darren Weir trained Real Love at $8 and German stayer Articus at $9.
Market order for the Caulfield Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.60 Jameka, $7.50 Scottish, $8 Real Love, $9 Articus, $11 Exospheric, $12 Sir Isaac Newton, $15 Sir John Hawkwood, $18 Tally, $21 Sacred Master, $26 Preferment, Tarzino, Our Ivanhowe, $34 Set Square, $51 Pemberley, $61 Almoonqith, De Little Engine, $71 Big Money, $81 Go Dreaming, $201 Vengeur Masque
