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The Caulfield Cup is set to take place on October 15 and Europe are sending a very strong team this year to try and capture the $2,500,000 race...
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Last year's Melbourne Cup winner Americain was allotted top-weight of 9-02 for the Caulfield Cup on Tuesday afternoon in a race that may serve as a prep-run for the Alain de Royre Dupre trained six-year-old before he looks to defend his Flemington crown on November 1.
Americain produced a career-best to land the 2010 running of the Melbourne Cup, catching So You Think with a hundred and fifty yards to go, before drawing clear to score by two and a quarter lengths, earning himself a Timeform rating of 126.
Although he has been below his very best this season, finishing down the field in both the Prix Kergorlay and the Prix de Bababeville, he Melbourne Cup has always been his seasonal objective, a race for which he is currently available at [22]. Americain is currently uncertain to line-up in the Caulfield Cup, with the Cox Plate also being touted by connections as a possible prep-race for the November showpiece.
The British challenge for the Caulfield Cup is headed by Brian Meehan's Breeders' Cup winner Dangerous Midge (Timeform rated 125), set to carry 9-01. He has not been seen since disappointing in the Dubai Sheema Classic, where he finished last of 14 behind Rewilding back in March, but he has proven in the past he can go well when fresh and connections could decide to send him straight to Caulfield.
Michael Bell's Tactician (115) is another British entrant and stands to race off a weight of 8-05. The four-year-old has shown a decent amount of progression in his relatively short career and was at his very best last time out, when he produced a bold front-running display to finish second in the Ebor at York, collared only late on by another who could join him in Australia, Brian Ellison's Moyenne Corniche who could go for the Melbourne Cup.
Group 3 Glorious Stakes winner Drunken Sailor (121) also holds an entry at this stage and is currently priced at 55.0 on Betfair. The Luca Cumani trained six-year-old missed the cut for the Melbourne Cup last year but has looked better this season, winning the listed Aston Park Stakes by seven lengths before his Goodwood success.
The strong pace that the Caulfield Cup is often run at will suit Drunken Sailor, who is seen at his very best when held-up given such circumstances and he is notably entered and available to back at 55.0 for the Melbourne Cup, too.
Of the home contingent, last year's winner Descarado once again lines up and is allotted a weight of 8-12, 8 lb higher than his mark last year. He is currently available to be backed at 50.0, and is bidding to become the first horse to win back-to-back Caulfield Cups since Rising Fast did so in 1955.
Amongst the market principals are Lights of Heaven and Scarlett Lady, who are priced 9.2 and 11.5 respectively and arrive at Caulfield with every chance, having won over £500,000 between them already this season.