The 2014 Caulfield Guineas barrier draw was conducted by the Melbourne Racing Club this morning and jockey Michael Rodd was thrilled with the barrier allocated to clear favourite Rich Enuff for the Group 1 event that will be held at the Caulfield on Saturday.
Jockey Michael Rodd is confident that Rich Enuff can deliver him a second career Caulfield Guineas win this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Rich Enuff overcame barrier 13 to win the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on September 28 and the Written Tycoon colt has one again been allocated a wide draw, but Rodd told TVN at the barrier draw that he believes barrier 10 is perfect for the talented colt in the Caulfield Guineas.
“It’s a perfect draw for him,” Rodd said,
“I think we will be able to roll forward and settle in the first part of the field.
“We don’t need to rush across from there.
“It gives me a lot of confidence that I can sit there and hold up as long as I want and know that when I push the button he’s really going to fly.
“He looks fantastic, he’s tightened up really well.”
Looks Like The Cat finished second behind Rich Enuff in both the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on September 13 and the Caulfield Guineas Prelude and will start next to his main rival in barrier nine.
Gai Waterhouse-trained Almalad was arguably the biggest loser of the 2014 Caulfield Guineas barrier draw after drawing barrier 13, but Waterhouse remains confident that the Al Maher gelding is capable of winning the Caulfield Guineas before stepping up to weight-for-age level for the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25.
Shooting The Win is another in the Caulfield Guineas field that is taking winning form into the Group 1 event and he drew fairly in barrier nine, while Living Legends Stakes winner Merion drew ideally in barrier four.
Talented colt Zebulon (barrier one), Godolphin colt Kumaon (barrier two), valuable colt Zululand (barrier three) and Harold Norman-trained Lucky Tom had their Caulfield Guineas chances enhanced by the barrier draw, while Stingray (barrier 11), Chivalry (barrier 12) and Our Vespa (barrier 14) will need a bit of luck from their draws.
Rich Enuff is currently available at Caulfield Guineas odds of $2.60 and he is a clear favourite from Looks Like The Cat ($5.50), Almalad ($7) and Chivalry ($7.50).
