The 2016 Caulfield Cup barrier draw has been completed and dominant favourite Jameka will jump from gate 13 in the Group 1 at Caulfield on Saturday.
2016 Caulfield Cup favourite Jameka has drawn in the second half of the Caulfield Cup field. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Jameka has been a clear favourite in Caulfield Cup betting markets since Hartnell was withdrawn, but she could be a drifter after drawing in the second half of the field.
The Myboycharlie mare lost no admirers when she finished second behind Hartnell in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 2 and Maher believes that she has had the perfect preparation for the Caulfield Cup.
“She has come through really well and her prep has been very smooth,” Maher said.
“She has had two runs over ten furlongs and she drops to a nice weight and is heading out to a mile and a half.
“Beyond a mile and a half we are not sure about her but she has a good record at the trip and this was always the target race.”
One of the big winners of the 2016 Caulfield Cup barrier draw was Godolphin-owned stayer Scottish, who will jump from barrier seven with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle.
Scottish has been in outstanding form in England this racing season and he is likely to be one of the best-backed runners in Caulfield Cup betting markets.
Another import that has drawn towards the inside of the Caulfield Cup field is Team Freedman-trained Exospheric, who will jump from barrier three with Damien Oliver in the saddle.
Barrier three has delivered three winners of the Caulfield Cup in the past 30 years, with the most recent being Southern Speed in the 2011 edition of the race.
Other horses to draw towards the inside of the 2016 Caulfield Cup field include Our Ivanhowe (barrier six), Sir Isaac Newton (barrier nine), Tarzino (barrier four), Almoonqith (barrier two), Sir John Hawkwood (barrier five) and Go Dreaming (barrier one).
One of the big losers of the 2016 Caulfield Cup barrier draw was Tally, who will jump from barrier 17 once the emergencies are removed.
Tally was well-backed in Caulfield Cup betting markets following his third place finish behind Hartnell and Jameka in the Turnbull Stakes, but no horse has won the Caulfield Cup from barrier 17 since champion mare Let’s Elope in 1991.
Another horse that will jump from the outsider of the Caulfield Cup field is Ciaron Maher-trained Set Square, who was allocated the outside gate.
Maher admitted at the Caulfield Cup barrier draw that Set Square will need plenty of luck from the outside alley, but he is hopeful that there will be plenty of speed in the early stages of the Group 1 event.
The likes of Preferment (barrier 15), Big Memory (barrier 12), Fanatic (barrier 16) and Pemberley (barrier 17) will also jump in the second half of the Caulfield Cup field, while emergencies De Little Engine (barrier 14) and Vengeur Masque (barrier 18) were both allocated wide barrier draws.
