Victoria’s leading trainer Darren Weir declares that Kings Will Dream has had a faultless preparation as he firms into outright favourite for the 2018 Group 1 $5m Stella Artois Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Kings Will Dream, above, is the firming favourite for the 2018 Caulfield Cup at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Weir won the 2015 Group 1 $6m Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington with $101 shot Prince Of Penzance and has a great chance to win the other major Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival’s feature staying race.
Weir will also saddle up Gallic Chieftain and Night’s Watch in the Caulfield Cup but clearly puts Kings Will Dream as his number one selection.
Kings Will Dream was set for the Caulfield Cup after gaining exemption form the ballot with his win in the Listed $300,000 Mornington Cup (2400m) at Mornington in March and Weir said that the five year old has had a faultless Spring Carnival preparation.
“Kings Will Dream is our best chance. Since he qualified at Mornington, he has been solely aimed at this race,” Weir told Racenet.
“Better still, everything has gone to plan, there has not been a hitch or hiccup in our preparation, despite no wins this time in – I have been very happy with him.”
“And then the barrier draw was kind to us, so I can’t complain and I can look forward to watching it unfold. The horse goes there in terrific order and gets his chance if he is good enough.”
“But it’s not an easy race. Sometimes it can be a mad rush to the first corner and he can step a touch slow away, so I wouldn’t to want to see that and give the good alley away.”
“He worked well Monday morning and then we gave him a course proper gallop at Warrnambool on Wednesday – he just needed it, so he goes there in top order and I hope he runs as well as we have him.”
Kings Will Dream will jump from barrier five if both the emergencies fail to gain a start and has the nice weight of 53kg with Craig Williams in the saddle.
Kings Will Dream has had four runs during the 2018 Spring Carnival on his way to the Caulfield Cup and even though he hasn’t found the winner’s stall this campaign, the import has been Group 1 placed on three occasions.
Kings Will Dream resumed for the Spring with an eye catching fourth to Showtime in the Group 2 $200,000 Sir John Monash P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 18 and then ran third to his stablemate Humidor in the Group 1 $1m New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
At his third run into his campaign Kings Will Dream was runner up to Grunt in the Group 1 $750,000 PFD Food Services Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington before a tough effort when third behind Winx and Youngstar in the Group 1 $500,000 Seppelt Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 6.
Kings Will Dream is the firming $5 favourite for the Caulfield Cup with Ladbrokes.com.au while Night’s Watch is marked at $17 and Gallic Chieftain is one of the outsiders of the field at $41.
Night’s Watch earned his place in the Caulfield Cup with his win in the Group 3 $150,000 East Malvern Bendigo Bank MRC Foundation Club (Naturalism Stakes) (2000m) at Caulfield on September 22 and then rounded off his preparation with a sixth to Benbatl in the Group 1 $1m Ladbrokes Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 13.
Apprentice Ben Allen rides Night’s Watch who was out of luck at the barrier draw, coming up with gate eighteen, while Gallic Chieftain will jump from barrier two with Dean Yendall in the saddle.
Gallic Chieftain has been around the minor placings at his last two starts with a second to The Taj Mahal in the Group 3 $200,000 JRA Cup (2040m) at The Valley on September 28 followed by a fourth last Saturday at Caulfield in the Group 2 $400,000 Ladbrokes Herbert Power Stakes (2400m).
