Caulfield Cup 2018 tips, form and betting preview
THE first of the big three races of the Victorian spring is on this Saturday as the Caulfield Cup headlines a huge weekend of thoroughbred action.
Will it be an international raider with one eye on the Melbourne Cup taking prize this year or can a homegrown galloper register the win and take home the lions’ share of the $5.15 million in prizemoney?
We’ve identified our four favourite runners heading into the Caulfield Cup.
Who are the best horses in the 2018 Caulfield Cup?
We’ve narrowed the field down to four. The Darren Weir-trained Kings Will Dream, Chris Waller’s Youngstar, Godolphin gun The Cliffsofmoher and the local hope Ace High.
Let’s take a closer look at the quartet of chances.
Ace High
Last year’s Victoria Derby winner Ace High looks in peak condition heading towards the Caulfield Cup.
The horse is a little long in the market ($11 at most online bookmakers) due to the fact he hasn’t confronted the Caulfield track before. This is something that has undone horses in the past but we’re confident Ace High has enough class to overcome that obstacle.
The horse is fresh off a dominant win in the Group 2 Hill Stakes and a replication of that run will see Ace High right in the Cup mix on Saturday.
WATCH BELOW: Ace High wins the Group 2 Hill Stakes
The Cliffsofmoher
Making his second Australian start after an eye-catching fourth in the Caulfield Stakes, The Cliffsofmoher comes into the 2018 Caulfield Cup as a strong winning hope.
Getting a look at Caulfield will be hugely beneficial to the horse, as will a strong second-up record of two wins and a second placing from three runs. The horse jumps from barrier three and looks a strong winning hope at the $7 quote via online bookmaker Neds.
WATCH BELOW: Aiden O’Brien’s travelling head lad TJ Comerford provides an update on The Cliffsofmoher.
Youngstar
Chris Waller is no stranger to high profile runners in big Melbourne races and the punters have rallied around Youngstar ahead of the Caulfield Cup.
Firming into $6 at BetEasy to win the big Group 1 race, Youngstar’s buzz came about after a strong performance behind stablemate Winx in the Turnbull Stakes two weeks ago.
Youngstar won the Queensland Oaks in the winter, but we’re somewhat worried about the wide barrier. Still, the mare rates as one of the race’s best chances.
WATCH BELOW: Youngstar runs second to Winx in the 2018 Turnbull Stakes
Kings Will Dream
Darren Weir-trained Kings Will Dream has been mightily impressive in all of his Australian runs to date, finishing no worse than fourth across four starts.
The $5 favourite at Sportsbet, Kings Will Dream drops down to 53kg under handicap conditions and has drawn favourably (barrier 6) to dictate his own terms.
This is the biggest race of Kings Will Dream’s career to date in Australia and we’re expecting the gelding to excel.
WATCH BELOW: Kings Will Dream runs second to Grunt in the 2018 Makybe Diva Stakes
Who will win the 2018 Caulfield Cup?
Irish invader The Cliffsofmoher is the standout runner in a strong Caulfield Cup field.
The horse finished the Caulfield Stakes strongly to finish fourth after settling at the back of the field and the race team is confident that getting a look at the track, as well as getting the first Australian gallop under the belt will deliver dividends in the Cup.
Cliffs has a great weight, barrier three and arguably the world’s best jockey aboard in Hugh Bowman, which is three big ticks for us.
Expect The Cliffsofmoher to be winning the 2018 Caulfield Cup.