Jameka v the Internationals: Caulfield Cup form guide

Luke Sheehan
Oct 13, 2016, updated Oct 13, 2016

Jameka will fly the flag for Australia in a field dominated by strong international hopes in Saturday’s $3 million Caulfield Cup.

The Ciaron Maher-trained mare – a $3.40 favourite with Sportsbet – enters the famous race in good form after an impressive second behind the outstanding Hartnell in the Turnbull Stakes.

While Real Love might be Jameka’s only local challenger in the Group 1 showpiece, imports Scottish, Articus and Exospheric all have strong claims.

“Jameka has prepared really well,” Maher told The New Daily.

“Her work has been really good and this has been her target race.

“She’s had two really good runs at the 2000m, is in good form and runs on her home track.”

Star trainer Maher also has Pemberley and Set Square in the field and thinks they are both at weights where they could spring a surprise.

He added that with many of the international horses, it was hard to line up their form.

Ciaron Maher has never won the Caulfield Cup. Photo: Getty

The runner-by-runner form guide

1 – Preferment (Barrier 15 – Form – 10×454)
Trainer: Chris Waller Jockey: Hugh Bowman

Comment: Four-time Group 1 winner improved in the Turnbull Stakes but was still three lengths off Jameka.

2 – Our Ivanhowe (6 – 501×58)
Lee and Anthony Freedman, Dwayne Dunn

Third in this race last year. German import had a big winter but this looks tough.

3 – Exospheric (3 – 3×1835)
Lee and Anthony Freedman, Damien Oliver

Freedman and Oliver have form in this race. Certainly in the mix.

4 – Scottish (7 – 1×3121)
Charlie Appleby, Kerrin McEvoy

First Australian start for the UK galloper. Steps up in distance but should be there or thereabouts.

5 – Sir Isaac Newton (9 – 11440)
Aidan O’Brien, Colm O’Donoghue

Another one starting for the first time in Australia. Prefer others.

6 – Tarzino (4 – 4×8086)
Mick Price, Craig Newitt

Form a concern for the Victoria Derby and Rosehill Guineas winner. Home track may help, though.

7 – Almoonqith (2 – 65×808)
David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig, Michael Walker

Won Geelong Cup and Sandown Cup last spring but this looks beyond him.

8 – Sir John Hawkwood (5 – 322×21)
John P Thompson, Blake Spriggs

Comfortably won The Metropolitan at Group 1 class. Beat Real Love in Brisbane Cup. Will be in the mix.

9 – Articus (11 – 31215x)
Andreas Wohler, Zac Purton

Last run was a fifth in Munich. Winning first-up here looks beyond Articus.

10 – Tally (19 – 13×023)
John O’Shea, Brenton Avdulla

Held on for third in the Turnbull Stakes after hitting the lead. Others too good here.

11 – Jameka (13 – 4×4712)
Ciaron Maher, Nick Hall

Deserved Cup favourite after dominating the Naturalism Stakes. Remarkably consistent at Group 1 level and looks to have improvement left. The one to beat.

12 – Real Love (10 – 14×271)
Darren Weir, Craig Williams

Way behind Jameka in the Naturalism – but that was on a soft track. The likely good conditions will have her right back in it. Expecting a big run.

13 – Set Square (20 – 5×9340)
Ciaron Maher, Michael Dee (a)

Won The Oaks in 2014 but hasn’t won since. Like Maher’s other hopes more.

14 – Big Memory (12 – 22×302)
Tony McEvoy, Chris Parnham

Hasn’t won since 2014 but has run second four times in last six starts. Very good last week – don’t discount him.

15 – Sacred Master (8 – 88214)
Chris Waller, Tommy Berry

Is race-fit with five runs under his belt. Might surprise at good odds.

17 – Pemberley (17 – 0x9113)
Ciaron Maher, Ben Allen (a)

Been winning in the country and flew home late for third last week.

18 – Go Dreaming (1 – 3×4864)
Grant Kluske, Katelyn Mallyon

Fairytale runner of the Cup – Go Dreaming is Strathalbyn trainer Kluske’s first runner in the race and is the first horse he bought when he took out a trainers’ licence two years back.

19 – De Little Engine (14 – 33×867)
Danny O’Brien, Ben E Thompson (a)