A capacity field of eighteen stayers plus four emergencies make up the final field for the 2020 Group 1 $5m Stella Artois Caulfield Cup run over 2400m at Caulfield on Saturday.
The Caulfield Cup field also include several European raiders with the Aidan O’Brien trained Irish stayer Anthony Van Dyck to carry the number one saddlecloth.
The locals are also strongly represented with last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare lining up along with multiple Group 1 winner Avilius.
Sydney’s champion trainer Chris Waller has three strong chances and will saddle up his Turnbull Stakes trifecta, Verry Elleegant, Toffee Tongue and Finche.
We have analysed the entire field for the Group 1 for the stayers and our complete 2020 Caulfield Cup tips can be found below!
Anthony Van Dyck
Group 1 winning Irish raider Anthony Van Dyck has an outstanding staying record with two wins over 2400m and one win over 2350m.
The Aidan O’Brien trained Anthony Van Dyck was the winner of the Group 1 Investec Derby Stakes (2420m) at Epsom Downs in England in June 2019 during his three year old year.
Anthony Van Dyke was back in the winner’s stall last start with a win in the Group 2 QATAR Prix Foy (2400m) at Longchamp in France and the Caulfield Cup looks an ideal race for him.
Avilius
Avilius is also a winner over the 2400m at Group 1 level with his win in the 2019 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill.
The James Cummings trained three time Group 1 winner is ready to step back up to the 2400m of the Caulfield Cup with three runs this preparation, his latest a second in the 2000m Group 2 Hill Stakes at Randwick two weeks ago.
Is in with a great chance.
Vow And Declare
Last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare hasn’t visited the winner’s stall since his victory in ‘The Race That Stops A Nation’ on the first Tuesday in November twelve months ago but will appreciate the step up to the 2400m of the Caulfield Cup.
Looking for a better showing coming off a last start 2.8 lengths twelfth in the 2000m Group 1 Turnbull Stakes and expect to see him doing his best work at the finish.
Buckhurst
Buckhurst is another Irish raider from the Joseph O’Brien stable who is yet to win at Group 1 level but has three Group 2 wins on his record.
All of Buckhurst’s three Group 2 wins have been over 2012m and he is yet to win beyond that distance with two placings over distances similar to the 2400m of the Caulfield Cup.
Buckhurst is coming off a last start fifth in the Group 3 ‘Is It 2021 Yet’ Stakes (2414m) at Leapardstown in Ireland in September.
Mirage Dancer
Mirage Dancer put himself into Caulfield Cup calculations with a last start win in the Group 1 The Metropolitan over 2400m at Randwick two weeks ago and can run well again in the Caulfield.
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young trained Mirage Dancer is a four times winner over the Caulfield Cup distance of 2400m and will give the locals a great chance to claim the winning trophy.
Mustajeer
Mustajeer has failed to run a place at three runs this campaign and looks tested on his last start ninth in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick two weeks ago.
Verry Elleegant
The Chris Waller trained Verry Elleegant will be flying the flag for the locals and is racing in great form with two wins from three starts this preparation.
Verry Elleegant was a first up winner in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 22 and was back in the winner’s list last start with a victory in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes over 2000m at Flemington two weeks ago.
The 2019 Australian Oaks winner is a two times winner over the Caulfield Cup distance of 2400m and she is one of the main chances.
Dashing Willoughby
English stayer Dashing Willoughby is yet to win at Group 1 level but will have no trouble with the 2400m of the Caulfield Cup.
Dashing Willoughby has won from 1750m to 3250m with his highest rated win being in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase (2850m) at Ascot in June 2019
The Andrew Balding trained five year old has solid recent form with wins at Newmarket and Sandown before his latest fourth in the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup Stakes (3250m) at York in August and is in with a chance.
Finche
Trainer Chris Waller has French import Finche ready to peak with two eye-catching runs in the lead up to the Caulfield Cup.
Finche resumed for a third in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick and then hit the line hard again with a close up third to stablemate Verry Elleegant in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington a fortnight ago.
Finche is crying out for the 2400m of the Caulfield Cup and with luck in running can figure in the finish.
Prince Of Arran
The widely travelled English stayer Prince Of Arran is shaping up for his third Melbourne Spring Carnival campaign and will no doubt be one of the main players again.
Prince Of Arran showed his staying ability with placings in the 2018 and the 2019 Group 1 Melbourne Cups (3200m) at Flemington and his recent English form suggests that he is going to be thereabouts again.
The Charlie Fellowes trained Prince Of Arran is yet to win at Group 1 level and is coming of a last start third in the Group 3 September Stakes (2414m) at Kempton Park in England on September 5.
Master Of Wine
English import Master Of Wine has finished on the heels of the placegetters at his last two starts at Flemington and is warming up to the 2400m of the Caulfield Cup.
The Team Hawkes trained import was beaten less than 2 lengths two starts back when fourth in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) and followed than up with a fifth, 0.8 lengths from the winner Verry Elleegant in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) a fortnight ago.
Master Of Wine also finished fourth in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick at the end of the 2020 Sydney Autumn Carnival and the six year old is a winner over the Caulfield Cup distance of 2400m.
The Chosen One
Kiwi stayer The Chosen One showed off his staying ability with a second in the Group 1 Sydney Cup over 3200m at Randwick at the end of the 2020 Sydney Autumn Carnival.
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman trained five year old scored a surprise first up win in a 1700m Flemington Handicap in September but has been unplaced at his next two starts, his latest a seventh in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield last Saturday.
Looks tested here.
Warning
Warning was the winner od the 2019 Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) but he hasn’t found the winner’s stall since.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman trained four year old has been unplaced at two runs this preparation but did make up plenty of ground last start when sixth in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes and will appreciate stepping out to the 2400m of the Caulfield Cup.
Dalasan
The South Australian trained Dalasan’s furthest winning distance is 2035m in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes at Morphettville in April but he was runner up in the Group 1 South Australian Derby over 2500m at Morphettville and his latest runs have been good with a last start fourth in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington a fortnight ago. A first four finish would not surprise.
True Self
Irish stayer True Self is yet to win at Group 1 level and has to improve on his recent Irish and English form to be a threat here.
The Willie Mullins trained True Self was beaten more then thirteen lengths last start when sixteenth in the Ebor Handicap (2787m) at York in England on August 22.
Aktau
Aktau gained a start in the Caulfield Cup with his win in the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) at Mornington in March but he looks tested here on his recent form.
Aktau failed to beat a runner home when fifteenth in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington two weeks ago.
Toffee Tongue
Toffee Tongue was the winner of the Group 1 Schweppes Oaks over 2000m at Morphettville during the 2020 Adelaide Autumn Carnival and raced into Caulfield Cup contention with a slashing second to her stablemate Verry Elleegant in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington two weeks ago.
The Chris Waller trained mare has a great lightweight chance.
Chapada
Chapada put himself in the Caulfield Cup picture with a win in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes over 2400m at Caulfield last Saturday but will find this a lot tougher.
Raheen House
English import Raheen House showed his staying ability with a win in the 2600m Group 2 Chairman’s Quality at Randwick in April before finishing third in the 3200m Sydney Cup at Randwick at the end of the 2020 Sydney Autumn Carnival.
The Kris Lees trained Raheen House has failed to impress at two runs this preparation and could only beat one runner home last start when tenth in the Listed Wyong Cup (2100m) at Wyong on September 4.
Way harder here.
San Huberto
French stayer San Herberto is now under the care of Ballarat trained Matt Cumani but is yet to be tested at Group 1 level but was a Group 2 winner three starts back in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier (3000m) at Chantilly in France in June.
San Huberto is coming off a last start eighth in the Group 2 Darley Prix Kergorlay (3000m) at Deauville in France on August 23 and will find this much tougher.
Oceanex
Oceanex looks way out of her grade here coming off a last start fourteenth in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington two weeks ago.
Le Don De Vie
English import Le Don De Vie is now under the care of Anthony and Sam Freedman but looks tested here on his last start win in the Listed August Stakes (2303m) at Windsor in England in August.
Caulfield Cup Tip
1 Anthony Van Dyck at $5.50
