Can Snow Sky Salute for Stoute in 2015 Caulfield Cup?

This Saturday’s capacity Caulfield Cup 2015 field features three European raiders, only two of which are assured of a run, with trainer Sir Michael Stoute saddling up his maiden runner in the classic with Snow Sky.

Four-time Caulfield Cup winning jockey Damien Oliver rides European raider Snow Sky in the 2015 edition this Saturday. Photo: Adrienne Bicknell.

Drawn ideally in barrier three, which last produced a winner in Southern Speed (2011), the visiting British-trained stallion has Australian hoop Damien Oliver booked for the ride in this year’s $3 million Group 1 BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m).

Running as Caulfield Race 9 at 5:40pm (AEST), the Caulfield Cup has a full 18 runners plus four emergencies, the first being another European visitor in the Roger Charlton-trained Quest For More ($51).

While he needs an early scratching to make the starting line-up, both Snow Sky and the Ed Dunlop-trained Ascot Gold Cup winner over 4023m back in June Trip To Paris are set to have their down under debuts in the classic.

Trip To Paris is a $26 chance in the latest Caulfield Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au, who are offering Best Tote or SP + 20% on all of Saturday’s Caulfield races, which are led by the New Zealand-trained ATC Derby winner Mongolian Khan ($4.80).

Higher up the markets is Snow Sky at a firming $9.50 (in from $10), close to the price the past four Caulfield Cup winners have jumped at with Admire Rakti ($10) last year for Japan, the Robert Hickmott-trained Fawkner ($10) in 2013, French raider Dunaden ($12) in 2012 and Southern Speed (2011) who jumped at 9/1 as the last single-figure champion in recent time.

So can Snow Sky join Dunaden (2012) and All The Good (2008) as the European-trained Caulfield Cup winners in the past decade?

Caulfield Cup Horse Form: #2 Snow Sky

Barrier: 3

Weight: 58kg

Jockey: Damien Oliver

Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute

Owners: Mr K Abdullah

Age: 5YO

Gender: Stallion

Breeding: by Nayef (USA) from Winter Silence (GB)

Career: 14-5-2-2

Win: 36%

Place: 64%

Last 6: 7x116x

Prize Money: $819,923

Track: 0-0-0-0

Distance: 6-2-1-0

Current 2015 Caulfield Cup Odds: $9.50

Why Snow Sky Can Win the Caulfield Cup

• Two European-trained horses have won the race in the past seven years including Dunaden (2012)
• An international also won last year with the Japanese-trained Admire Rakti (2014)
• Drawn ideally in barrier three with the latest winners from that gate being Elvstoem (2004) and Southern Speed (2011)
• The 58kg top weight isn’t a disadvantage historically with two of the past three Caulfield Cup winners carrying those kilos to victory with Dunaden (2012) and Admire Rakit (2014)
• Jockey Damien Oliver is the most successful Caulfield Cup hoop in the past 30 years with four winners most recently Sky Heights (1999)
• Five-year-olds have won twice in the past 10 years with Tawqeet (2006) and Master O’Reilly (2007)
• The distance looks ideal (6-2-1-0) and runs well fresh (4-1-1-1)
• Winner of the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup (2816m) – Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes (2414m) double earlier this year, the form of the latter holding up especially well in Australian staying races in the past few years

Why Snow Sky Won’t Take out the 2015 Caulfield Cup

• While Oliver has four Caulfield Cup wins on his record he hasn’t ridden a champion in the race since 1999 (Sky Heights)
• Sir Michael Stoute has never run a horse in a Caulfield Cup field
• Looks a better Place chance with a Place Rate of 64% and a Win Rate of 36%
• Has never raced in Australia
• All The Good (2008) is the only Caulfield Cup winner in the 15 years to have a final lead-up run in Europe

Think Snow Sky can salute in the Caulfield Cup 2015 and want to back him at the guaranteed hottest odds? Visit Ladbrokes.com.au now who are also rewarding first time depositing players that quote the code SPRINGBONUS with up to $700 in bonus bets for a short time only this spring!