LAST Saturday’s anonymously named Catanach’s Jewellers Foundation Cup, better known as the Naturalism Stakes, carrying a ballot-free entry into the Caulfield Cup, has ensured a start for the former Coolmore horse Orderofthegarter in the $5 million handicap over 2,400 metres.
The Galileo entire, trained by Danny O’Brien, won the Group 3 over 2,000 metres by three-quarters of a length, subsequently earning a 1kg Cup penalty from Chief Handicapper Greg Carpenter, taking his weight to 51kgs.
“The merit of the victory on Saturday warranted a 1kg penalty for both Cups as he seeks to emulate Jameka, who won the Caulfield Cup after winning the Naturalism Stakes in 2016,” said Carpenter.
Orderofthegarter is now an $11 equal favourite with Verry Elleegant for the Caulfield Cup.
THE second declarations for the A$5 million Cox Plate closed on Tuesday with four internationals remaining amongst the 66 horses still in the field.
The quartet are the Aidan O’Brien-trained Armory and Magic Wand, Joseph O’Brien’s Buckhurst, and Roger Charlton’s Aspetar.
INTERNATIONAL runners number 12 of the 87 horses remaining following Tuesday‘s taking of first acceptances for the A$5 million Group 1 Stella Artois Caulfield Cup. With a final field size being 18 plus four emergencies, the internationals by order of entry are:
3, Anthony Van Dyck (IRE), 58.5kg, (Aidan O’Brien)
6, Magic Wand (IRE), 55kg, (Aidan O’Brien)
9, Master Of Reality (IRE), 56kg,
(Joseph O’Brien)
10, Santiago (IRE), 53.5kg, (Aidan O’Brien)
12, Twilight Payment (IRE), 55.5kg, (Joseph O’Brien)
16, Buckhurst (IRE), 55kg, (Joseph O’Brien)
18, Armory (IRE), 52kg, (Aidan O’Brien)
20, Prince Of Arran (GB), 54.5kg, (Charlie Fellowes)
23, Dashing Willoughby (GB), 54.5kg, (Andrew Balding)
33, True Self (IRE), 52kg, (Willie Mullins)
42, Ashrun (FR), 53kg, (Andreas Wohler)
55, Pondus (IRE), 51kg, (Joseph O’Brien)