Real Love To Caulfield Cup After JRA Cup Win

Real Love will head to the 2016 Caulfield Cup after she recorded an impressive victory in the 2016 JRA Cup at Moonee Valley tonight.

Real Love will progress to the 2016 Caulfield Cup following a smart win in the Group 3 JRA Cup. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos

Real Love will progress to the 2016 Caulfield Cup following a smart win in the Group 3 JRA Cup. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos

Real Love was settled just behind the leading group in the early stages of the JRA Cup, while Tom Melbourne ensured that the race was run at a genuine tempo, and she had the race in the bag a long way from home.

The Desert King mare effortlessly went place the leaders when she was asked for an extra effort by jockey Brad Rawiller and he said that she felt like a different horse compared to her last start in the Naturalism Stakes.

“She is a beauty,” Rawiller said.

“The other day was below par for her, but she was a different horse today going around and she was a big more relaxed.

“They went too hard in the first 600 metres and we got into a good rhythm.

“We got a track up down the side and it was just a matter of then going.”

Trainer Darren Weir admitted that Real Love did not perform at her best in the Naturalism Stakes and he was delighted that she was able to return to her best form in the JRA Cup.

Weir confirmed that Real Love will have her next race start in the Caulfield Cup and he believes that the consistent mare is more than deserving of her place in the Group 1 event.

“She paraded a little bit fresh second-up and she didn’t show the turn-of-foot that she does have, but she has trained on beautifully since then and she presented great tonight,” Weir said.

“She needed to do what she did tonight to think that you are a chance of getting into and running well in the Caulfield Cup.

“Bob is a realist, he said that she needs to be running well to press on to that and I think that he will be happy with what he has seen tonight.”

Observational was well-backed in the lead-up to the JRA Cup, but he was never able to get into the race after being settled in the same half of the field, while Tom Melbourne tired badly late.

Real Love is currently available at 2016 Caulfield Cup odds of $26 with Ladbrokes, while Hartnell ($6) is a narrow favourite from Jameka ($7), Scottish ($9) and Exosphere ($11).

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.