Impending is on top of the 2016 Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas tips of Daniel O’Sullivan and the leading form expert believes that the Godolphin colt is clearly the horse to beat in the Group 1 event at Caulfield this Saturday.
The Lonhro colt continues to firm in the betting and is now the clear cut favourite at $3.70 with Ladbrokes.com.au.
Impending has been well-backed to win the 2016 Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Impending started his 2016 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a pair of third place finishes in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 27 and the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at the same venue a fortnight later before he stamped himself as a leading Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas contender with his win in the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 26.
O’Sullivan told Racing Active that he believes the Sydney three-year-old form is clearly superior to that in Melbourne and he is not worried about barrier ten for the Lonhro colt in the 2016 Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas.
“Impending has the figures on the board and the Sydney form looks much stronger,” O’Sullivan said.
“Barrier ten is a nice draw for this horse.
“He is going to settle off the pace and he has the strong sustained speed that will be needed.
“He is generally the horse to beat.”
Impending is locked in a battle for Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas favouritism with Divine Prophet, but O’Sullivan believes that there should be a bigger gap between the two colts.
O’Sullivan has genuine queries about whether Divine Prophet is capable of running out a strong 1600 metres and he also is of the opinion that barrier one is far from ideal for the son of Choisir.
“Divine Prophet had every possible chance and Impending ran home better to go past him,” O’Sullivan said.
“After the Golden Rose I wrote a piece about Divine Prophet and I thought that he peaked on the line in the Golden Rose and I wasn’t that impressed with him through the line.
“That was borne out a little bit in the 1500 where he was beaten by Impending.
“He peaked late and through the line he wasn’t that impressive.
“That raises a little bit of a question mark about him here going to the 1600 and it is a matter of whether he can turn-the-tables on Impending.
“Barrier 1 is a terrible barrier draw for this horse – he is the sort of horse that needs to be drawn middle or wide and run on down the outside.
“I still think that he is a key chance, but I can’t see any value in the price.”
Impending is currently available at 2016 Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas odds of $3.70.60 and he is a narrow favourite from Divine Prophet ($6), Sacred Elixir ($6), Evacuation ($8) and Good Standing ($8.50).
Update: Money continues to come for Impending and he is now into $3.70 to record a maiden win at Group 1 level.
