Tony McEvoy’s Herbert Power Stakes runner-up from last weekend Big Memory is out of the Caulfield Cup 2016 field for Saturday paving the way for the race’s second emergency Vengeur Masque to gain a run.
Big Memory is the second horse scratched from the 2016 Caulfield Cup field. Photo: Steve Hart.
Her withdrawal allowed the first of two Caulfield Cup emergencies, the Danny O’Brien-trained De Little Engine to get a run chasing his first ever Group race win.
On Friday morning the second Caulfield Cup scratching was announced with McEvoy’s Duke Of Marmalade seven-year-old Big Memory officially withdrawn at 8:30am (AEDT) on the eve of the race.
After going down a nostril flare behind Assign at the track and distance in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) last weekend, Big Memory was found to be showing signs of severe inflammation to a hock.
He was to be ridden from barrier 12 by up-and-coming jockey Chris Parnham.
In his place will be the Michael Moroney-trained Vengeur Masque drawn barrier 18 and starting from 16, a gate that last produced a Caulfield Cup winner in Master O’Reilly (2007).
Master O’Reilly was prepared by O’Brien who is now in with a shot at a second Caulfield Cup trophy with De Little Engine paying $51 and jumping from barrier 13 with apprentice Ben Thompson getting his first ride in a Caulfield Cup on Saturday.
Imported Monsun five-year-old Vengeur Masque meanwhile while be ridden by Patrick Moloney who also jumps on a Caulfield Cup hopeful for the first time this weekend.
The galloper has had three runs down under including a last start fourth behind Almandin on October 2 at Flemington in the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2500m).
He drops from 54kg that day to just 50.5kg on the weekend but remains a $201 roughie in the updated Caulfield Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.
The Ciaron Maher-trained mare Jameka remains clear $3.60 favourite in the Caulfield Cup betting markets, while the notable market mover is the Chris Waller-trained Sacred Master ($31 into $16).
Tommy Berry retains the ride on the Mastercraftsman five-year-old who was last seen running only 1.6 lengths away fourth behind fellow Caulfield Cup rival Sir John Hawkwood in Sydney’s Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) a fortnight back in Sydney.
See below for the updated 2016 Caulfield Cup betting markets provided by Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Enhanced Odds (T&Cs apply).
