Caulfield Guineas 2015: Moroney Hoping For Speed For Tulsa

Trainer Mike Moroney is happy with Tulsa ahead of the 2015 Caulfield Guineas, but he believes that the promising gelding will need there to be plenty of early speed in the race to be any chance of winning the Group 1 event at Caulfield on Saturday.

Tulsa finished a very close second behind Bon Aurum in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Tulsa finished a very close second behind Bon Aurum in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Tulsa showed what he was capable of when he recorded an impressive two lengths victory at Pakenham on August 25 and he had no luck whatsoever in the Listed Pin And Win Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on September 12 before he charged home to finish in the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) on September 26.

Tulsa’s Caulfield Guineas chances were taken a hit when he was allocated the outside barrier on Tuesday morning, but Moroney joked that the Sebring gelding now has plenty of experience from wide gates and he can be a factor in the Caulfield Guineas as long as there is early speed in the $1 million race.

“He is well-practiced at it now because that is the third time that he has drawn the outside gate,” Moroney said.

“We will have to go back from that draw and we will have to rely that they are going to run along quick enough.

“Usually with those big fields they seem to because horses get caught a bit wide and have to shoulder on because you can’t sit four wide and win those races and usually with those fields it is quite truly run.”

While Moroney was not thrilled with Tulsa’s 2015 Caulfield Guineas barrier draw, he is happy with the physical condition of the three-year-old and he believes that he has taken plenty of benefit from his run in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude.

Moroney does not think that Tulsa needs to improve a great deal to give himself a chance in the Caulfield Guineas and he does expects another close finish in the Group 1 event.

“He appears to have kept improving,” Moroney said.

“He is eating better and he is starting to look a little bit better in the coat.

“He has been a bit backwards, but he is certainly on the improvement.

“I am as confident as you can be going into a Group 1 because we know how hard they are to win.

“You could throw a blanket on the first seven home in the Guineas Prelude, so there is not a lot between them.

“They have met each other and couple of times now and all the form lines start to meet.”

Tulsa is currently available at 2015 Caulfield Guineas odds of $12 with Ladbrokes and he is on the fifth line of betting behind Press Statement ($2.70), Ready For Victory ($8), Dal Cielo ($9) and Tarzino ($11).

Leading online bookmaker Ladbrokes is offering Best Tote or SP + 20% on the Caulfield Guineas and every other race at Caulfield on Saturday!

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.