Cambridge trainer Tony Pike is hoping his star three year old Sacred Elixir can replicate the deeds of last year’s winner Press Statement and win the Group 1 $1m Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Sacred Elixir, above, will try to win the JJ Atkins – Caulfield Guineas double at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Chris Waller trained Press Statement won the 2015 Group 1 $600,000 BMW Australia J.J. Atkins (1600m) at Doomben before going on to take out the Caulfield Guineas later in the year and Sacred Elixir proved to be the star two year old during this year’s Brisbane Winter Carnival with a win in the J.J. Atkins.
“The placegetters behind him in the JJ Atkins were both 100-1 pops, but you can only beat what is in front of you. And the form out of the JJ the last couple of years has clearly stood up, with Press Statement winning last year,” Pike told The Courier-Mail.
Pike was also surprised that Scared Elixir opened up at $7.50 with Ladbrokes.com.au when the final field was released on Tuesday but the Pour Moi gelding has since firmed into to be the third favourite at $6.50.
“Maybe he is those odds because he is trained by a mug Kiwi trainer?” Pike joked.
“Or maybe it is because punters, as per usual, are knocking the form out of the Queensland Winter Carnival?”
The Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes first two placegetters are the top two in the Caulfield Stakes betting with the John O’Shea trained Impending the favourite at $4.80 just ahead of Team Hawkes’ Divine Prophet at $5.
Pike sent Sacred Elixir straight to the spelling paddock following his J.J. Atkins wins and resumed in Melbourne with a first up win with Damian Lane in the saddle in the Group 3 $175,000 Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on September 24.
Lane takes the ride again on Sacred Elixir who has drawn barrier seven in the fourteen horse field.
Market order for the Caulfield Guineas at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.80 Impending, $5 Divine Prophet, $6.50 Sacred Elixir, $8 Evacuation, $8.50 Good Standing, $10 Hey Doc, $13 Saracino, $20 Seaburge, $21 Wazzenme, $26 Kaching, $31 Revolving Door, $51 So Si Bon, $61 Land Of Plenty, $151 Barbie’s Boy.
