Form expert Deane Lester has Lidari on top of his 2014 Caulfield Cup tips and he is confident that the imported galloper can give trainer Peter Moody his maiden win in the Group 1 event at Caulfield this afternoon.
Lidari is the 2014 Caulfield Cup tip of leading form analyst Deane Lester. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia.
Lidari showed his best form over a mile in his first two racing preparations in Australia, highlighted by a win in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington earlier in the year, but he has looked like a genuine stayer during his 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign to date.
Lester told Sky Racing HQ this morning that Lidari has had the perfect preparation for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and he is confident that the Acclamation entire will get an ideal run into the race from barrier four.
“I am going to go with Lidari,” Lester said.
“I think that he has had a great preparation in that he has improved every run this campaign.
“He was a 2400 metre horse when he came to Australia and he just didn’t have the racing manners to relax and settle and they have probably spent 12 months running in races that haven’t been ideal.
“They have got him a really suitable racing pattern and his manners are ideal to settle over 2400.
“I just think the final factor is that he has come up with a great draw.”
The majority of racing experts believe that the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) is the key Caulfield Cup form guide and Lester is no different; rating Turnbull Stakes winner Lucia Valentina and third placegetter Brambles as the main danger to Lidari.
Lester revealed that he also plans to include Seismos in his Caulfield Cup selections and he believes that the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes winner is capable of playing a part in the finish of the Group 1 event this afternoon.
“Lucia Valentina got a beautiful smooth run through the field at Flemington and if she can get that same passed through again she is a great winning chance,” Moody said.
Quiet often the luck doesn’t come that way at Caulfield.
“Brambles is a good tough horse, he will be up on the speed and you know he will be a winning chance at some stage.
“I am putting Seismos as a bit of a roughie because he is a tough horse.”
Lucia Valentina ($4.60) remains a clear favourite in 2014 Caulfield Cup betting markets from Lidari ($9) and Junoob ($9), while Seismos has been backed into 2014 Caulfield Cup odds of $21.
