Tense Wait For Southern Speed In Caulfield Cup

Southern Speed

Southern Speed would need a fair bit of luck to make the Caulfield Cup field

It seems unlikely but not impossible that Southern Speed will get a start in the 2011 Caulfield Cup as she languishes in equal 27th position on the order of entry.

Obviously she’ll need a fair bit of luck to force her way into the 18 horse final field but she’s a horse that could well run a race should she get a chance.

In fact she’d likely even be among the top few favourites after she finished fourth in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on Sunday only two weeks after pressuring December Draw when second in the Underwood Stakes.

She’s proved herself as a better hope than many of the runners ahead of her on the ballot but now there’s nothing more she can do as the Leon Macdonald stable has decided to wait it out and hope she’s done enough to sneak in.

“My plan is to go towards Caulfield Cup day, she might not get a run,” he said.

“But there is also the Coongy Handicap on the same day.

“I’d love to make the Cup field, she’s probably not that far away, but it’s going to be touch and go.”

Macdonald is encouraged by the fact she’d carry just 50kg if she got a start in the Caulfield Cup and the fact she once again got within three lengths of December Draw at her last start.

“He went very well, December Draw. He’s a pretty good horse,” Macdonald said.

“I’m not saying it will happen, but those horses that keep winning and winning, they do get towards the end of their tether. She (Southern Speed) ran terrific and I don’t think she was suited down on the fence.”

It would give the Macdonald camp two Group 1 targets in two weeks with Majestic Music on track for a run in the Toorak Handicap at Caulfield this Saturday.

“She’s looking good,” Macdonald said.

“Once again she’s going to need a bit of luck because her style of racing isn’t suited in these top-class fields where she gets out the back and has to get around them. But that’s the way she races and we can’t do much about it.”

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