Saturday’s Caulfield Cup looks to have been thrown wide open by the barrier draw with fancied runners Hawkspur and Dandino among those out wide. Confidence in Hawkspur seems to have evaporated since he pulled barrier 16 whilst English hope Dandino faces an impossible task from stall 19.
Hawkspur put up an eye-catching trial in the Turnbull Stakes when attempting to come from last with a sweeping run up the inside rail. In a tightly-bunched field, he had to weave his way between horses and could never get to the leaders in the race won by Happy Trails. Although he cannot be dismissed with Dunaden having won from stall 18 last year, his jockey must now hope for luck in running on this notorious slow-starter.
Dandino does not possess the same turn of foot as Hawkspur and would have been a major player given any sort of low draw. However, he is really going to struggle from stall 19 and Craig Williams will have to be at his very best. Punters have deserted Hawkspur in favour of stable companion and Australian Oaks winner Royal Descent. She also endured a troubled passage along with Jet Away and it is the former Sir Henry Cecil-trained inmate that interests me most of the pair.
Jet Away looked certain to be in the first four before being snatched up when crossed by a rival close home, dropping back to sixth. He had made good progress from the rear and it could be significant that four-time Caulfield Cup winner Damien Oliver has been booked for the ride on Saturday. At odds of around 9-1, he looks a decent each-way bet. He has drawn barrier 13 which, although not ideal, does at least give his rider a chance of settling closer to the pace.
With so many of the fancied horses drawn wide, the race looks set up for a possible shock result and My Quest For Peace could step up on his previous efforts. Last year he was sent over by Luca Cumani and ran fifth here from a low draw. If you dismiss his recent efforts over distances well short of his best, he could bounce back to form for Peter Moody.
Corey Brown knows the horse well having ridden him last year and his best form in Europe came when he was up with the pace. He will be arriving late from Singapore to take the ride. At odds of around 33-1, he could represent each-way value.
Jet Away 9-1 Bet365
My Quest For Peace 33-1 Stan James, Totesport
