2012 Caulfield Cup Odds Update & Southern Speed Scratching

Defending champ Southern Speed has officially been scratched from this afternoon’s Caulfield Cup 2012 field with odds on the mile and a half classic undergoing a shake-up.

Money is starting to come in the Caulfield Cup odds for favourite Glencadam Gold again

Southern Speed was drawn out wide in barrier nine 14 and trainers Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas were concerned that from that gate with 54.5kg against a crack field that includes two former Melbourne Cup winner and a favourite that is undefeated down under that she wouldn’t be able to shine.

“It was a tough decision, but we have made the call,” co-trainer Macdonald said.

“There were a few factors, including that no horse has won successive Caulfield Cups since Rising Fast (1954-55) and that no mare has carried a weight similar to hers and won the race for a long time.”

Instead the mare will be saved for Saturday week’s $3 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley, Southern Speed currently rated as a $41 roughie in the Cox Plate odds at bookmaker.com.au which are led by Gai Waterhouse’s smart colt Pierro ($3.80) and Turnbull Stakes winner Green Moon ($4).

“I can’t have the mare going any better, she’s fit and well, but we all feel that next week’s Cox Plate might be a more suitable race for her,” Macdonald added.

“The Caulfield Cup is the strongest Cup field we have seen for years, but I also acknowledge that the Cox Plate won’t be any easier to win.”

With Southern Speed, who was rated a $26 chance in the markets for the $2.5 million Group 1 BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m), out the Michael Moroney-trained Sabrage has earned a call up as the first emergency.

Sabrage, runner-up in the Group 1 SA Derby over 2500m back in May, remains a $101 roughie in the Caulfield Cup betting markets however.

The trend in the Caulfield Cup markets seems to be those who wait are getting a better price with the odds on the bulk of the runners easing including those for the two former Melbourne Cup winners with Americain out to $21 and Dunaden, drawn in the extreme outside barrier, out to $10.

There are a number of market firmers however including the favourite Glencadam Gold.

After easing out to as long as $5.50 the Gai Waterhouse-trained import is now back into $4.80 despite having come up with the second widest gate.

Glencadam Gold is unbeaten in Australia with four smart wins, most recently running away to put an easy four lengths on their rivals in an impressive all-the-way victory in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) in Sydney.

Second favourite December Draw, who jumped top of the odds in the Caulfield Cup last year before breaking down during the run and failing to beat home any of their rivals, then remains steady at their single-figure quote of $7.50.

Meanwhile another notable market mover is third elect My Quest For Peace, the nicely drawn (2), ideally weighted (53.5kg) international raider getting a bit of love from the punters having come in from $9 to $8.50 in the past 24 hours.

Overall however the horse to come in the most in their price to win the 2012 Caulfield Cup is the Peter Moody-trained mare Lights Of Heaven.

Punters could get this Brisbane Cup – Eagle Farm Cup winner for as long as $17 at the start of the week but she is now at $9 and shortening by the hour.

There has also been a tickle for another Moody-trained hopeful Sneak A Peek into $15 from $17, and veteran Adelaide galloper Alcopop who is into from $16 to $13 – the 52.5kg lightweight having run a slashing second in the Caulfield Stakes last Saturday.

Check out the latest Caulfield Cup 2012 odds below then for live price fluctuations head straight to our preferred online bookie bookmaker.com.au who are also offering exclusive ‘Pick Your Own Odds’ on all the Caulfield Cup Day races!