Cassidy won’t change tactics on Glencadam Gold in Caulfield Cup

Veteran jockey Jim Cassidy is not expected to change tactics on Glencadam Gold after the favourite drew one from the outside in the Saturday’s Group 1 $2.5m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield.

Glencadam Gold

Glencadam Gold drew barrier 21 for the Caulfield Cup. Photo by: Steve Hart

The Gai Waterhouse trained import drew barrier twenty-one in the original drew but will still jump from gate seventeen in the eighteen horse field when the emergencies come out.

The wide gate hasn’t perturbed Cassidy who takes over the reins from Tommy Berry and will no doubt let Glencacdam Gold stride across the field and take up the front running position which saw him win the Group 1 $400,000 McGrath Estate Agents Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on October 6.

“I’ll have a talk to Gai to see what we’re going to do but my initial thoughts are he’s a free goer so why take it off him,” Cassidy said.

“No use changing the way he’s been racing going into a Caulfield Cup.”

“The outside draw will give me a chance to look at a few, see what they’re doing.”

“I can’t control barrier draws or weather so I don’t worry about them. It’s only a number isn’t it?”

“He’s got to go up a notch but winning form’s good form. He’s shown he can do it off a strongly run mile and a half. He’s not a soft stayer.”

Glencadam Gold is undefeated from four starts in Australia since entering the Waterhouse stable and after winning his debut start over 1550m in restricted grade, rose to Caulfield Cup favouritism after winning the Metropolitan.

Even though Glencadam Gold fared poorly at the barrier draw, the five year old retained  top spot at the head of the markets at $4.80 with last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden next in line at $7 just ahead of the Mark Kavanagh trained December Draw at $7.50.

Connections of Dunaden were bitterly disappointed in coming up with the outside barrier and Craig Williams has an enormous job ahead to slot the French stayer into a good trailing spot with 58kg.

“The horse must have cover,” said stable representative Geoffrey Faber said.

“Ideally we wanted between six and 11, where we could bury him mid-division.”

“The horse does not want to see daylight for the first mile. We just want him to drop in behind other runners.”

“We have got two speed horses inside us that we can follow through so I haven’t given up at all. The horse is in fantastic form. I would say in career-best form to be honest.”

“We are going into the race, physically, full of confidence. We have the right horse. We haven’t got the right gate but he’ll be going his best.”

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.