The 2015 Caulfield Cup third acceptances have been released and Godolphin remain a chance to have three leading contenders in the Group 1 event in the form of Complacent, Hauraki and Magic Hurricane.
Complacent and Hauraki are both set to do battle again in the 2015 Caulfield Cup. Photo by: Steve Hart
Complacent has made a stunning return to racing during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival and he will go into the Caulfield Cup as a genuine chance after recording two wins from four starts this preparation.
The Authorized entire had no luck whatsoever when he returned to the races in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on August 22, but he recorded one of the biggest upsets of the spring to date in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on September 5.
Complacent finished a gallant third in the Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on September 19 before he returned to winning form with a very narrow win over Hauraki in the Group 3 Craven Plate (2000m) at the same venue on October 3.
Hauraki made a slow start to his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign, but he returned to his best form in the Craven Plate and will likely relish the step-up to 2400 metres in the Caulfield Cup after he finished second behind Mongolian Khan in the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) during the autumn.
Magic Hurricane appeared unlikely to earn a place in the 2015 Caulfield Cup field after he was allocated only 50 kilograms when the initial weights were released, but he could now sneak into the field after he received a two and a half kilogram penalty from Racing Victoria Chief Handicapper Greg Carpenter after he won the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) in impressive fashion on Saturday.
Another trainer that is set to have a strong hand in the 2015 Caulfield Cup is Chris Waller, who has included five horses in the Caulfield Cup third acceptances.
Preferment secured a place in the Caulfield Cup field when he won the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Sunday, but he now appears likely to miss the Caulfield Cup and instead run in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 24.
Despite this Waller is still likely to have a strong hand in the Caulfield Cup and at this stage Royal Descent, Who Shot Thebarman, Grand Marshal and Beaten Up all remain in contention to run in the Group 1 event.
Other notable horses in the 2015 Caulfield Cup third acceptances include Snow Sky, Protectionist, Fame Game, Mongolian Khan, Our Ivanhowe, Hokko Brave, Trip To Paris, Rising Romance, Gust Of Wind and Set Square.
