The jockeys of the Lloyd Williams owned Green Moon and Sea Moon will be instructed to push their mounts forward in the Group 1 $3m Crown Golden Ale Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Green Moon, above, and stalemate Sea Moon will push forward in the early stages of the Caulfield Cup. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Both Green Moon and Sea Moon have been settling back in the field at their most recent runs but with the expected pacemaker, Japanese stayer Bande, being scratched on veterinary advice after showing signs of soreness in a front tendon, the Caulfield Cup field will be lacking genuine up front speed.
The Williams team, which is prepared by trainer Robert Hickmott, notified Racing Victoria Stewards today that Chad Schofield on Green Moon and Steven Arnold on Sea Moon will be instructed to go forward if their mounts leave the gates cleanly.
Racing Victoria Stewards then released the change of tactics notification via twitter.
“Pre Race: Change of Tactics: 18-10-2014 Caulfield 9 – Green Moon – Will go forward if it jumps well,” the first tweet from Racing Victoria Stewatrds read, followed by “Pre Race: Change of Tactics: 18-10-2014 Caulfield 9 – Sea Moon – Rider will be instructed to go forward.”
Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon hasn’t won a race since claiming the ‘Race That Stops The Nation’ in 2012 but did run one of is best races since when he travelled on the pace before finishing second to Fiorente in the 2014 Group 1 $1m Darley Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington during the Melbourne Autumn Carnival.
But the English import has been settling out the back at his two runs this campaign with a sixth to Dissident in the Group 1 $400,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 13 followed by a fifteenth to Lucia Valentina in the Group 1 $500,000 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 4.
While Sea Moon, another one of Williams’ imported English stayers, was only in front of one runner in the early and middle stages in the eight horse field at his only run this preparation when fifth to Who Shot Thebarman in the Group 3 $150,000 The Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington two weeks ago.
But Sea Moon’s only win for the Williams team was when he raced on the pace before taking out the Group 2 $220,000 Sportingbet Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield during the 2013 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Green Moon will jump from barrier five in the eighteen horse field while Sea Moon will have to jump cleanly from the outside gate to move forward and cross over before the first turn out of the straight.
In the latest betting for the Caulfield Cup with Ladbrokes.com.au, Green Moon at $31 and Sea Moon at $51 are among the outsiders of the field.
Last start Turnbull Stakes winner Lucia Valentina continues to hold down the top spot at $3.80 with the Peter Moody pair of Brambles, $9, and Lidari, $9.50, continuing to attract plenty of support.
The best supported runner of Chris Waller’s four Caulfield Cup starters is Junoob who also is solid in the betting at $10 with high profile Japanese stayer Admire Rakti while Australian Oaks winner Rising Romance is marked at $14.
