The in-form John O’Shea-trained It’s Somewhat is early favourite to take out the Coongy Cup 2016, formerly the David Jones Cup, on Caulfield Cup Day in Melbourne on Saturday.
It’s Somewhat leads the 2016 Coongy Cup field, weights and betting odds for the Caulfield Cup Day clash this weekend in Melbourne. Photo: Steve Hart.
Due to jump at 3:10pm (AEDT) as Caulfield Race 6, this year’s $150,000 Group 3 Priceline Pharmacy Coongy Cup (2000m) has attracted a final field of 13 stayers.
Heading the field and the latest Coongy Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au is the equal 59kg top-weight It’s Somewhat at a current quote of $3.20 and firming to win for Godolphin.
The six-year-old Dynaformer gelding comes off some gun lead-up form in Sydney including the third to superstar mare Winx in the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) and the last start win in Randwick’s Group 3 Craven Plate (2000m) on October 1.
He carted the same 59kg weight to victory as the odds-on favourite in the Craven Plate and is well-supported to win again under the kilos this weekend in his first look at the Caulfield track.
Jockey Hugh Bowman replaces James McDonald in the saddle, It’s Somewhat having his first run the Melbourne way in the Coongy Cup.
O’Shea has also accepted for Tarquin who gets in on the 54kg minimum and pays $15 to win from barrier 10.
The Hard Spun four-year-old has had four Caulfield runs for a win and a third to date and has strong formline to follow into this weekend having run fifth to Caulfield Cup 2016 hopeful Real Love in the Group 3 JRA Cup (2040m) at Moonee Valley last time out.
There are three other runners in the Coongy Cup field and betting markets under $10 to win the handicap clash this season including $6 co-second favourites Maurus and Vanbrugh.
Craig Williams sticks in the saddle of the Robert Smerdon-trained local Medicean import Maurus who is another JRA Cup graduate running at Caulfield on the weekend having run second to Real Love.
He drops from 57kg that run to 55.5kg on Saturday and is drawn in barrier nine, while the Chris Waller-trained Vanbrugh jumps from gate five on 54.5kg.
Four-year-old Encosta De Lago stallion Vanbrugh is out to atone for his last start ninth when beaten under three lengths by Hauraki in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) in Sydney on October 1.
He is up in distance for the first time since the ATC Derby ninth over the mile and a half as a three-year-old in the autumn, and his last 2000m run produced the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas fourth to Tarzino that campaign.
Rounding out the single-figure fancies at $8 is the widely-drawn Tom Melbourne in the outside alley (13).
The hit-and-miss import is prepared by Lee & Anthony Freedman who were originally thinking of a Melbourne Cup run this season with the son of Dylan Thomas.
He has run sixth in this two latest starts however behind this weekend’s Caulfield Cup favourite Jameka in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) and then in the JRA Cup so needs to improve to continue on this spring.
See below for the full Coongy Cup 2016 field, barriers, jockeys, weights and latest Fixed Win odds provided by Ladbrokes.com.au on the race formerly known as the David Jones Cup.
