Lucia Valentina is available at 2014 Caulfield Cup odds of $4.60 and is set to start the Group 1 event as favourite.
There has been a wave of late money for Who Shot Thebarman in 2014 Caulfield Cup betting markets. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
The Savabeel mare has been touted as a leading Caulfield Cup contender since her successful 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign, which included a win in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) and a placing in the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m), and she stamped herself as the clear favourite for the race with a strong win in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 4.
Junoob is another horse that is taking winning form into the Caulfield Cup and the Chris Waller-trained stayer could start on the second line of betting after being the best backed runner today.
The Haafhd gelding recorded a tough win in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at his last start and is now available at Caulfield Cup odds of $9 after being available at $13 earlier in the week.
Lidari and Brambles finished second and third behind Lucia Valentina in the Turnbull Stakes, but they have both been well-tried to turn the tables on the talented mare in the Caulfield Cup this afternoon.
Brambles was backed from $21 into $9 on Thursday afternoon, but has drifted back out to $10, while Lidari has been $9.50 into $9 in the past hour.
Japanese stayer Admire Rakti was available at a quote of $9.50 earlier in the week, but his price has lengthened in the past 24 hours and is now out to $12.
Admire Rakti has not been seen at the races since he finished 13th in the Group 1 Tenno Sho (3218m) at Kyoto on May 4 and he has been an inconsistent performer throughout his career and has been more than competitive in races like the Group 1 Japan Cup (2413m) and Group 2 Daishoten Stakes (3016m).
One horse that has received plenty of support in the past 24 hours is talented mare Rising Romance, who is into $12 after being available at a quote as long as $16 earlier in the week.
Rising Romance upset Lucia Valentina to win the Australian Oaks in April and she has been far from disgraced in the lead-up to the Caulfield Cup; finishing fourth in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on September 6, seventh in the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on September 20 and second in the Group 3 Craven Plate (2000m) at the same venue on October 4.
There has been a surge of late money for Kiwi stayer Who Shot Thebarman in the last 30 minutes and he is now into $10 to deliver trainer Chris Waller a maiden win in the Caulfield Cup.
Who Shot Thebarman started his 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with two fair performances in Sydney, but has found winning form since arriving in Melbourne and took out the Sofitel Girls Day Out Handicap (2000m) and the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2520m).
There has been a sprinkling of late money for Hawkspur ($16), while Moriarty ($26), Green Moon ($34) and Sea Moon ($51) have been late drifters.
