This Saturday in Melbourne for Underwood Stakes Day a field of Caulfield Cup potentials will face off in the 2014 Naturalism Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse.
Spillway (outside) is the headline 2014 Caulfield Cup hope in Saturday's Naturalism Stakes field. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.
Running as Race 6 at 3:25pm at the nine-race meeting, this year’s $150,000 Group 3 Jack London Naturalism Stakes (2000m) field features 12 hopefuls.
Heading the field and weights with 58kg for the race offering a ballot exemption for the $3 million Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) back at the track on October 18 is the David Hayes & Tom Dabernig-trained Spillway.
Winner of the Group 3 JRA Plate (2000m) in Sydney during the autumn, Rail Link stallion Spillway returned to racing with a nice second behind Star Rolling in the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) here on August 16.
His latest run was then a close fourth behind Cox Plate bound Dissident in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) last Saturday.
On the short seven day back up now Spillway goes up in distance to 2000m which he has won three of his previous starts over looking to get into the Caulfield Cup field next month.
Spillway sits 36th in the latest Caulfield Cup order of entry after being allocated 52kg.
While in danger of missing a start in the capacity 18 horse field the bookies are taking no chances with the five-year-old however with Spillway equal $15 second pick at Ladbrokes.com.au in the all-in Caulfield Cup odds.
The next best Naturalism Stakes acceptor in Caulfield Cup betting at $26 is then the Chris Waller-trained Our Voodoo Prince.
Drawn wide in barrier 11 with James Winks to ride on 56.5kg, Kingmambo seven-year-old Our Voodoo Prince is third-up for the season.
A winner of three straight during the autumn including the Group 3 Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on April 19, the veteran import was disappointing first-up when failing to beat home any other runners in the wet at Randwick in the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m).
He improved though on a firmer track at Moonee Valley when stepped up to a mile a fortnight ago in a handicap clash carrying 60kg to run third behind St Jean, an effort he’s out to go better than here with less weight.
Our Voodoo Prince is well down the Caulfield Cup ballot sitting 42nd and is allocated just 52kg.
Following Spillway in the Naturalism Stakes weights are then the Peter Moody-trained Ibicenco (57.5kg) and the Team Hawkes-trained Entirely Platinum (57kg) who both come off a last start eight and who are drawn beside each other in barriers five and six respectively.
Coming off a better lead-up run and getting in on 56kg for Saturday is then the Gai Waterhouse-trained Bonfire due to be ridden by Craig Williams.
The British import has run second in both of his starts down under including behind fellow import and stable mate Greatwood in the Listed Premier’s Cup (1800m) in the wet at Rosehill late last month carrying 58kg.
Also of note are the likes of Patrick Payne’s $34 Caulfield Cup chance Zanbagh who was runner-up to Rising Romance in the Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m) last April, Jake Stephen’s Balaklava Cup winner Gris Caro in the outside barrier and Let’s Make Adeal all on the 54kg minimum.
See below for the full Naturalism Stakes 2014 field, barriers, jockeys and weights.
Then to back your favourites at Caulfield this weekend and enjoy Best Tote + 20% markets on the Underwood Stakes at the track visit Ladbrokes.com.au and bet better with the country’s fastest growing bookie!
2014 Naturalism Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw
Caulfield Race 6 (3:25pm) – 20/09/2014
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Br. | Wgt. | H. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 344x781x24 | SPILLWAY (GB) | David Hayes & Tom Dabernig | Damien Oliver | 4 | 58kg | 105 |
| 2 | 94518010×8 | IBICENCO (GER) | Peter G Moody | Brad Rawiller | 5 | 57.5kg | 104 |
| 3 | 22x1114x18 | ENTIRELY PLATINUM (NZ) | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Dwayne Dunn | 6 | 57kg | 103 |
| 4 | 334x111x93 | OUR VOODOO PRINCE (GB) | Chris Waller | James Winks | 11 | 56.5kg | 102 |
| 5 | 6x37x32x22 | BONFIRE (GB) | Gai Waterhouse | Craig Williams | 10 | 56kg | 101 |
| 6 | 1x25x12x00 | FOUNDRY (IRE) | Robert Hickmott | Chad Schofield | 3 | 55.5kg | 100 |
| 7 | 134x0313x7 | ARALDO (GB) | Michael Moroney | Glen Boss | 1 | 55kg | 99 |
| 8 | 71x7020x00 | KINCAPLE (NZ) | Mark Webb | Damian Lane | 2 | 54.5kg | 98 |
| 9 | 2x95152x96 | ZANBAGH | Patrick Payne | Ms Michelle Payne | 9 | 54kg | 100 |
| 10 | 3x87477x96 | LET’S MAKE ADEAL | Nigel Blackiston | Dwayne Dunn | 8 | 54kg | 99 |
| 11 | x27x128x67 | GRIS CARO (GB) | Jake Stephens | Ben Melham | 12 | 54kg | 97 |
| 12 | 022x726x13 | ALBONETTI | Sue Jaensch | Dean Yendall | 7 | 54kg | 80 |
