The always-popular Caloundra Cup 2022 race headlines the action at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday and it is the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Le Don De Vie heading markets on the mile and a half showdown.
This year’s Listed $300,000 Landsborough Hotel Caloundra Cup (2400m) field features a near capacity line-up of 17 stayers with the favourite drawn out in gate 13.
Nash Rawiller comes aboard the import, winner of last year’s Warrnambool Cup, who presents fit third-up for Maher & Eustace following a transfer from the Freedman stables.
He won his opening race for the new team at Flemington over the mile at big odds in May, before a credible last start 11th with excuses when 5.5 lengths off Numerian in the Group 2 $1.2 million The Q22 (2200m) on June 11 at Eagle Farm.
The Q22 form looks strong heading into the Caloundra Cup and Le Don De Vie is at $4.80 and firming through Ladbrokes.com.au to frank it and win the Listed showdown.
The danger occupying the second line of Caloundra Cup betting on the quick back-up is Kelly Schweida’s Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup winner from last weekend, London Banker.
The proven stayer was excellent with William Pike aboard on Tiara Day saluting over the 2400m with 55kg by two lengths.
He faces a challenge here on successive Saturdays going up a half-kilo and drawing the carpark out in gate 17 for jockey James Orman to overcome.
The early Caloundra Cup market mover well-backed in from $14 to $8 is the David Vandyke-trained local Street Dancer.
Veteran Queensland hoop Jim Bryne partners the consistent Pride Of Dubai four-year-old who chases his first win at the distance.
He was good in easier company two back in the wet at Doomben winning over 2200m before a smart last start third when only a length off Smart Meteor in the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m).
In a relatively open market, a further two runners are at single figures with Group 1 performer Alakahan ($8.50) coming off a Listed Winter Cup third only a quarter-length beaten over the distance at Rosehill on June 4, and the Gary Duncan-trained Seat Of Power ($9.50) who finished runner-up to London Banker in last Saturday’s Tatt’s Cup in Brisbane.
Among the other main chances chasing an upset at double-figures are the likes of evergreen 10-year-old Sweet Thomas ($10) who was eye-catching when third only a length beaten over the two miles on Stradbroke Day in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (3200m), and the Annabel Neasham-trained Bartholomeu Dias ($10) coming off a close fifth in a blanket-finish Ipswich Cup result.
The Caloundra Cup 2022 is set to run Race 6 at the Sunshine Coast at 4:02pm (AEST) with full markets, courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au, available here.
2022 Caloundra Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | H Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 79x77885x7 | SOUTHERN (IRE) | Matthew Smith | Ryan Wiggins | 1 | 59.5kg | 104 | ||
| 2 | 70x5054x10 | LE DON DE VIE (GB) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Nash Rawiller | 13 | 58.5kg | 102 | ||
| 3 | 11x80x0200 | BALLISTIC BOY | Chris Anderson | Ryan Maloney | 4 | 57.5kg | 100 | ||
| 4 | 111×805491 | LONDON BANKER (NZ) | Kelly Schweida | James Orman | 17 | 55.5kg | 96 | ||
| 5 | 172004×915 | BARTHOLOMEU DIAS (GB) | Annabel Neasham | Brodie Loy | 7 | 54kg | 54.5kg | 93 | |
| 6 | 200×715160 | SWORDS DRAWN | Shaune Ritchie & Colm Murray | Ms Samantha Collett | 2 | 54kg | 91 | ||
| 7 | x055126452 | SEAT OF POWER (IRE) | Gary Duncan | Ben Thompson | 8 | 54kg | 90 | ||
| 8 | 3×00098423 | SWEET THOMAS (GER) | Matthew Smith | Kyle Wilson-Taylor (a) | 6 | 54kg | 90 | ||
| 9 | 07×6440873 | ALAKAHAN (IRE) | Richard & Will Freedman | Larry Cassidy | 5 | 54kg | 89 | ||
| 10 | x60x304127 | ARAPAHO (FR) | Bjorn Baker | Mark Du Plessis | 3 | 54kg | 88 | ||
| 11 | 5770×48456 | PAPPALINO (FR) | Matthew Smith | Jaden Lloyd (a) | 11 | 54kg | 85 | ||
| 12 | x7x2131413 | STREET DANCER | David Vandyke | Jim Byrne | 12 | 54kg | 84 | ||
| 13 | 10640×3369 | SPENCER | David Vandyke | Ms Tiffani Brooker | 16 | 54kg | 77 | ||
| 14 | x011171697 | OSTERMEIER | Alyssa & Troy Sweeney | Ms Georgina Cartwright | 15 | 54kg | 76 | ||
| 15 | 66×6447020 | DUNHILL (NZ) | Kelvin Tyler | Adin Thompson (a) | 14 | 54kg | 71 | ||
| 16 | 35×3114 | I PONDER | John Symons & Sheila Laxon | Luke Tarrant | 10 | 54kg | 63 | ||
| 17 | 4×60081363 | WINSTON BLUE | Neil Hocking | Corey Bayliss | 9 | 54kg | 59 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
