The Gai Waterhouse trained Julienas has scraped in the final field for the Group 1 $2.65m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Julienas has scraped into the Caulfield Cup field. Phoyo by Steve Hart.
Julienas and English raider Forgotten Voice had to fight it out for the final spot in the eighteen horse field with the Melbourne Racing Club opting for the Sydney trained galloper.
With twenty-two final acceptors, four emergencies were also declared with Forgotten Voice the first, followed by the Peter Moody pair of Sneak A Peek and Ibicenco with the last emergency being the Peter Morgan and Craig Widdison trained Oasis Bloom.
Waterhouse will have two runners and will saddle up Glencadam Gold in a bid to win her second Caulfield Cup after collecting the major prize in the 2010 with Descarado with Chris Munce aboard.
Glencadam Gold will be having his second attempt at winning the $2.65 million handicap after setting a cracking pace last year with Jim Cassidy aboard before fading in the straight to finish fifteenth to Dunaden.
The Refuse To Bend six year old again looks the likely leader but his form leading up to the Caulfield Cup has not been as good as it was last year when he went into the race after winning the Group 1 $400,000 McGrath Estate Agents Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick.
His best recent run was two starts back when second to Moriarty in the Group 2 $200,000 Bacardi Hill Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on September 21.
While Julienas’ most recent form has been fair with a win two starts back in the Group 3 $125,000 TAB Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) at Rosehill on September 28 followed by a second to Seville in the Metropolitan at Randwick on October 5.
Moody will still have two runners with topweight Manighar and My Quest For Peace in the final field of eighteen.
Manighar will carry the number one saddlecloth with 58kgs after the weights were raised 1.5kg after the original topweight Green Moon, with 58kgs, and stablemate Sea Moon, 57kgs, were non acceptors.
Moody is expecting Manighar to run an improved race after recovering from a virus which was responsible for the imported grey finishing near the tail of the field in the Group 1 $500,000 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 5.
The multiple Group 1 winner pleased Moody with a solid hit out on Saturday morning warranting his place in the field.
While My Quest For Peace has failed to threaten at his only two starts this Spring.
As expected Sydney’s Premier trainer Chris Waller will saddle up four runners, Hawkspur, Royal Descent, Moriarty and Kelinni.
Hawkspur has been the long time favourite and is currently heading the Caulfield Cup market order at $4.20 in front of stablemate Royal Descent at $7 just in front of English visitor Dandino at $7.50.
Top Melbourne jockey Craig Williams will be looking for his third Caulfield Cup in a row after winning in 2011 on Southern Speed and last year on French galloper Dunaden.
Reports from the Werribee International Horse Centre are that Dandino has been working very well and the widely travelled six year old comes to Caulfield after winning the US$400,000 American St. Leger Stakes (1 mile, 5 1/2 furlongs) at Arlington Park, USA on August 17.
