Waldpark the star worker in final Caulfield Cup hit out

German import Waldpark stole the show at Flemington this morning as several gallopers went through their final paces for the Group 1 $2.65m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Hawkspur is the ruling favourite for the Caulfield Cup.

Hawkspur is the ruling favourite for the Caulfield Cup. Photo by Steve Hart.

The Anthony Freedman trained import is a Group 1 winner in Europe, winning the 2011 €500,000 Deutsches Derby (2400m) at Hamburg, Germany but has failed to repeat that form in his three Australian runs to date.

Sydney jockey Brenton Avdulla was on hand at Flemington to ride his Caulfield Cup mount and said that if the six year old races up to his work he could run a much improved race.

“Of this morning I would say he is going really well and looking for the distance, hopefully we can draw a nice marble and he might surprise a few people,” Avdulla told Racing Network.

“I was really happy with the way he worked today, just sat off his partner, he got off the bridle, I justed asked him to pick up the last 400m, it was a nice little gallop, he picked the mate up, went past it and worked quite well.”

Flemington clocker Warren Huntley was very impressed with Waldpark’s gallop, clocking his last 400m at 22.6 seconds, the fastest of the course proper workouts.

“It worked really well, I’m not sure who it worked with but gee he was quite impressive,” Huntely said.

“He was easily the quickest of the gallops on the course proper, I got him running his last 400m in 22.6 seconds.

“I know Brenton is not a heavy jockey and he was there to have a solid hit-out but he worked very well.

“He has galloped on the course proper three or four times, he has always worked quite well but never like I’ve seen today, certainly today was a really sharp piece of work.”

Waldpark raced handy at his first Australian start when eighth to Foreteller in the Group 1 $350,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 7 then settled back in the field when eleventh to It’s A Dundeel and Atlantic Jewel in the Group 1 $400,000 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 21.

Freedman was then forced to take Waldpark to run in the $100,000 Benalla Toyota Gold Cup (2046m) after failing to get a run in the Group 1 $500,000 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 5.

Waldpark has been marked a $41 chance in the Caulfield Cup market order which has the Chris Waller trained Hawkspur the $4 favourite.

Waller also has equal second favourite Royal Descent who shares the $7 line with English stayer Dandino.

Kiwi mare Silent Achiever is at $8 in front of David Hayes’ import Jet Away at $11 and Crown Oaks winner Dear Demi who is $15 alongside of Fawkner.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.