Southern Speed wins the 2011 Caulfield Cup

Southern Speed

Southern Speed wins the Group 1 Caulfield Cup

Adelaide mare Southern Speed is the toast of Australian racing after winning the 2011 $2.5m Group 1 Caulfield Cup(2400m) in comfortable fashion today.

Joint trained by Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas at Morphettville, the lightly raced four-year-old lifted for a career high justifying her strong backing after Wednesday’s barrier draw – as much as$26 was bet at the start of the week and she started $10.

“Just sensational,” an elated Macdonald said.

”This was the one we really wanted, when you go into a race with a good chance and things work right, it’s pretty important.

“She’s very sound, she hasn’t had a problem.
“As soon as she got to a mile-plus, this campaign, she’s showed her form.

From barrier four jockey Craig Williams masterminded his first Caulfield Cup victory.

Hong Kong galloper Mighty High led the field but continually fought his rider Darren Beadman by hanging out – at the start, at the first turn along with other periods in the race.

Beadman set a good speed  while Southern Speed settled fifth on the fence and traveled sweetly throughout.

Bolters Dream Pedlar and Niwot took up forward positions but were pushed wide by Mighty High’s antics at the first turn.

Tullamore settled on the outside of Southern Speed with Shootoff and Manighar close by.

Race favourite December Draw settled midfield but coming to the turn struggled before Michael Rodd virtually pulled him out of the event in the home straight and finished last. Rodd reported the gelding was galloped on.

Green Moon was having a tough run wide on the track and surprised when he moved up to the leaders at the 600m.

It was at this point where the race took shape as Mighty High raised the white flag and troubled galloper Lucas Cranach started to gain ground wide after settling in the last six early.

Green Moon had the audacity to take the lead into the straight but Williams, who hadn’t spent a penny on Southern Speed,  loomed quickly.

For fleeting moments in the straight  Lucas Cranach looked a winning chance and then Tullamore but Southern Speed held her rivals who in the final 150m gave no more.

Green Moon did a great job to run second after Southern Speed took control at the 200m.

Tullamore battled on well with Manighar, who like in 2010 Caulfield Cup, remained one paced and finish fourth.

Lucas Cranach, passed fit earlier in the day after a cracked hoof problem, ran well for fifth with the Melbourne Cup in mind.

Bart Cummings’ galloper Precedence was caught wide throughout and his run is best forgotten.

Southern Speed has run her spring Grand Final and will not contest the Melbourne Cup though an encore may be staged in next week’s Cox Plate.

She defeated Green Moon by a length and half with Tullamore a further half length away.

For Macdonald and Gluyas it was a highlight of their career but there was a sour note in victory.

The owners of Southern Speed chose Craig Williams above stable rider Clare Lindop who did much of the work on Southern Speed.

Lindop had won the Victoria Derby on Rebel Raider, the Magic Millions Classic on Augusta Proud for Macdonald but had to watch from the sidelines.

”That’s probably my saddest moment in the whole thing, that Clare wasn’t on the horse,” Macdonald said.

“She spent a lot of time getting her ready.”

The Caulfield Cup was Southern Speed’s fourth win in 12 starts and she added $1.5m to her prizemoney which now stands at $1,856,000

After the race Lucas Cranach was found to be slightly lame but no abnormality was found with December Draw .

Race 8 – 4:05PM BMW Caulfield Cup (2400 METRES)
Of $2,500,000.1st $1,500,000, 2nd $375,000, 3rd $200,000, 4th $110,000, 5th $90,000, 6th $75,000, 7th $75,000, 8th $75,000 GROUP 1
Handicap, Minimum Weight 52.5kg, Weight Raised 2.5kg, Apprentices cannot claim.Track Condition: Good 3 Time: 2:28.44 Last 600m: 0:36.25 INTERIM RESULTS

 

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Starting Price
1 18 SOUTHERN SPEED Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas Craig Williams 3 52.5kg $10
2 16 GREEN MOON (IRE) Robert Hickmott Nicholas Hall 1.5L 13 53kg $11
3 11 TULLAMORE (NZ) Gai Waterhouse Craig Newitt 2L 11 54.5kg $20
4 3 MANIGHAR (FR) Luca Cumani Damien Oliver 3L 4 56.5kg $13
5 5 LUCAS CRANACH (GER) Anthony Freedman Corey Brown 3.1L 2 56kg $15
6 4 UNUSUAL SUSPECT (USA) Michael Kent Nash Rawiller 3.5L 6 56.5kg $61
7 2 DRUNKEN SAILOR (IRE) Luca Cumani Dwayne Dunn 4.25L 14 56.5kg $26
8 17 MACEDONIAN (NZ) Peter G Moody Luke Nolen 4.55L 8 53kg $51
9 8 SHOOTOFF (NZ) Graeme Rogerson Kerrin McEvoy 5.05L 12 55kg $31
10 6 PRECEDENCE (NZ) Bart Cummings Steven Arnold 6.05L 16 56kg $26
11 12 ABSOLUTELY Michael Kent Brad Rawiller 6.15L 18 54kg $21
12 14 NIWOT Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Dean Yendall 6.35L 17 53.5kg $41
13 7 HAWK ISLAND (IRE) Chris Waller Glyn Schofield 7.6L 10 55.5kg $21
14 10 SAPTAPADI (IRE) Brian Ellison Mark Zahra 8.35L 5 54.5kg $21
15 13 DREAM PEDLAR Troy Blacker Chris Symons 10.6L 15 53.5kg $91
16 15 DOMESKY Michael Kent Brenton Avdulla 16.1L 7 53kg $151
17 1 MIGHTY HIGH (FR) John Moore Darren Beadman 22.1L 1 57kg $8
18 9 DECEMBER DRAW (IRE) Mark Kavanagh Michael Rodd 24.85L 9 54.5kg $3.30F

 

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