Barrier one may look like a favourable gate but when it comes to the inside alley, history is against a win by Harlem in the Caulfield Cup 2017 from the draw this Saturday in Melbourne.
Recent Caulfield Cup history is against Harlem drawn barrier one for the Group 1 classic on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The David Hayes-led Lindsay Park stable saddle-up four of the 17 Caulfield Cup horses in this year’s $3.15 million feature including Harlem from barrier one.
The only horse in the field carrying a weight penalty (0.5kg), the Champs Elysees stallion is still a lightweight hope in on 51.5kg with Chad Schofield to ride.
Six-year-old Harlem is into $11 in the latest Caulfield Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au after coming up with the first of 17 barriers in the mile and a half showdown.
Caulfield Cup form experts however have to go right back to Velocity in 1941 to find the last winner to salute form barrier one.
Looking to be the first six-year-old to salute in the race since Fawkner (2013), Harlem was last seen running fifth to fellow rival on Saturday Amelie’s Star in the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington on October 7.
The Darren Weir-trained The Bart Cummings winner Amelie’s Star (barrier 13, 51kg) is rated an $8.50 chance in the Caulfield Cup odds to do the double.
Harlem meanwhile has eased out from an earlier price of $9.50, but drops right back in weight and returns to Caulfield Racecourse where he earlier won the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) on September 23.
Hayes has enjoyed two Caulfield Cup wins in the past three decades with Fraar (1993) and the imported Tawqeet (2006).
Along with Harlem he chases a third in 2017 with He’s Our Rokkii and Boom Time drawn at the opposite ends of the Caulfield Cup field in barriers 15 and three respectively, while Ventura Storm was the big winner in gate four.
Luke Nolen partners Roc De Cambes gelding He’s Our Rokkii who is the $126 roughie in the markets following an eighth in Randwick’s Group 3 Craven Plate (2000m) last Saturday in Sydney.
Boom Time ($51) has Cory Parish riding this weekend in the hoop’s first Caulfield Cup ride, the Flying Spur stallion catching the eye with a close fourth to Lord Fandango in the Group 2 Ladbrokes Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at the track / distance last weekend.
Prepared by English expat Archie Alexander, Lord Fandango pays $26 to do the Herbert Power Stakes – Caulfield Cup double for the first time since Master O’Reilly (2007) and is drawn barrier nine.
Ben Allen retains the ride on the German-bred Lord Of England stallion who is out to be the sixth Caulfield Cup winner from the gun gate nine draw since 1983.
As for Ventura Storm, the five-year-old Zoffany stallion is a $12 shot in the race looking to salute from barrier four for the first time since the aforementioned Master O’Reilly a decade ago.
A winner of six of his 16 career starts, the imported Ventura Storm was last seen finishing runner-up to super star mare Winx in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 7.
In a big boost, the horse has Damien Oliver coming aboard this weekend who is the most successful Caulfield Cup jockey since 1983 having partnered four winners: Mannerism (1992), Paris Lane (1994), Doreiums (1995) and most recently Sky Heights (1999).
To get behind a Lindsay Park-trained galloper to win the Caulfield Cup 2017, check the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au now.
