The 2022 Caulfield Cup Day got underway in uncertain circumstances as the deluge of rain came on Thursday and Friday and we began one of the major race days on the Australian racing calendar on a Heavy 8 track. However, throughout the day we had great weather which helped dry out the track and we were racing on a Soft 6 by the jump of the Group 1 Caulfield Cup, which was taken out by an emergency runner for the first time in history.
At Caulfield you could win from just about anywhere. After the first few races, many of the jockeys were agreeing that the very middle of the track, from the 10m lane to the 15m lane, was the best going for the majority of the day. Below you will find some of the better runs in defeat, or runs you may have missed in an action-packed day.
Caulfield Cup Day – October 15, 2022
Track rating: Heavy 8 (Soft 7 after R3, Soft 6 after R8)
Rail position: +8m entire circuit
Race 9: Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) | Time: 2:33.68
- Horse to follow: Vow And Declare (6th)
Every run of Vow And Declare’s Melbourne Cup preparation has been full of merit, and his sixth-place finish in the 2022 Caulfield Cup on Saturday may have been his best run yet. After being caught four wide for the first 1000m of the race, he eventually got the back on Nonconformist, who gave him cover, while still sitting three wide for the rest of the trip. Going down the straight it looked as though Vow And Declare’s run had come to an end, but he was very strong running through the line, picking off a few who had much better runs than himself.
When to bet: Vow And Declare and Danny O’Brien’s team have been taking it slowly this campaign, rising him up in distance and grade run-by-run, and the 2019 Melbourne Cup winner has taken it all in his stride. This seven-year-old gelding will be cherry ripe come the first Tuesday in November and he is definitely worth a bet at $15 with online bookmakers in the 3200m Melbourne Cup. If you already have a futures ticket on this guy, you should be very happy with your investment.
Race 7: Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m) | Time: 57.58
- Horse to follow: Kallos (2nd)
The Group 2 Caulfield Sprint was dominated by Asfoora, but out of the beaten brigade Kallos from the Godolphin yard was a clear blackbooker after running on and beating the rest of the field comfortably. Kallos had won very well first-up at Warwick Farm and came into the Caulfield Sprint as a $7 chance with online bookies, but he found one better on Saturday. Jamie Kah had this guy on the outside within two lengths of the leader in a small field and he worked home very nicely down the outside, but the leader was already off and gone with the prize.
When to bet: If this son of Medaglia D’oro can find himself in a Group 3 or Listed race over 1100m during the Melbourne Spring Carnival, he would most definitely be worth a bet. James Cummings said before his run in the Caulfield Sprint that he is looking more like a winner now, so he is in good form on the training track and he is taking the same attitude to race day, which is a positive sign for followers this spring.
Race 5: Listed Gothic Stakes (1400m) | Time: 1:25.60
- Horse to follow: Angry Skies (2nd)
After running second in the Listed Gothic Stakes at only start number three, Angry Skies has shown that he is a very talented three-year-old colt. He actually started the race as a $4.60 favourite with most betting sites, and only went down by a head on the line to the James Cummings-trained Sandpaper. Sandpaper sat on the hot speed and had the tactical advantage over Angry Skies, who sat in fifth outside of He’ll Rip and behind Lincoln Square – neither of who whom were going to take him into the race – so he made his own run four wide on the turn. Given the advantage that Sandpaper had on this colt already, it could have been what lost him this race, but with similar runs next time we think the result may be reversed.
When to bet: Although Angry Skies has not been nominated for any races as of yet, Sandpaper looks set to be the horse for Godolphin in the Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day, and the Hayes team would most likely follow. No matter where this colt goes next race, he will be a bet for us – as long as he is getting out to 1600m.
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