By ROY ASPINALL
RECENTLY returned from a 10 month ban, champion jockey, Damien Oliver, will be aiming to equal the record number of wins in the $2,650,000 Group 1 BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) when he rides Jet Away on Saturday.
The BMW Caulfield Cup is considered to be the toughest and most prestigious 2400 metre handicap in the world and this Saturday will see the 136th running. Following the third declarations on 8 October, 41 horses remain with the final declaration, carrying a fee of $20,625, due at 10am on Tuesday, 15 October. Oliver has been engaged to ride the David Hayes-trained import, Jet Away, who will be attempting to win the race second-up, which is not unusual for European prepared horses, unlike those trained here. First up Jet Away was an unlucky and fast finishing, seventh behind Happy Trails in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on 5 October – beaten only by two lengths.
Jet Away, a former UK galloper, has raced 19 times for eight wins, four seconds and a third for prize money of $326,881 – reflecting the poor state of stakes in England. He raced twice here in the autumn winning the Bendigo Golden Mile and the Easter Cup at Caulfield before David Hayes spelled him. He is sure to be greatly improved by the Flemington run.
Damien Oliver, who has been riding in great form since resuming from the ban received over a betting charge following last year’s Spring Carnival, has won the BMW Caulfield Cup four times on Mannerism (1992), Paris Lane (1994), Doriemus (1995) and Sky Heights (1999) to sit one-win behind the legendary, Arthur (Scobie) Breasley. The late Breasley won on Tranquil Star (1942), Skipton (1943), Counsel (1944), St Fairy (1945) and Peshawar (1952).
This year’s BMW Caulfield Cup is shaping to be a very strong one and the hardest to beat looks to be the Chris Waller-trained, Hawkspur, who raced into favouritism with another top effort in the Turnbull Stakes. Hawkspur was at the tail of the field and then failed to gain a run until the last 200 metres but rattled home for fifth beaten little more than half a length. He has raced four times this campaign and won the Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) second up, racing twice since. Hawkspur also won the Queensland Derby during the winter.
Stablemate, Royal Descent, the ATC Oaks winner in April, is racing well and was another luckless runner in the Turnbull Stakes, finishing 11th – just four lengths away.
Much interest will centre on the Marco Botti-trained, Dandino, the English galloper is yet to race here but at his last start won the US St Leger (2700m) at Arlington Park. At his previous start he ran second, beaten a length, to Thomas Chippendale in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes (2400m) at Ascot on 22 June with Mount Athos, third. He is a renowned traveller having raced twice in North America and England plus once in Hong Kong in his last five starts.
Craig Williams has been engaged to ride Dandino this Saturday and he will be attempting to win the BMW Caulfield Cup for the third successive year. English jockey, Ryan Moore, is expected to have the mount in the Melbourne Cup.
Fawkner, Seville and Masked Marvel, from the powerful Lloyd Williams stable, are great chances, along with Silent Achiever, Mr O’Ceirin and Tuscan Fire.
Whilst most attention centres on Saturday there is a strong meeting at Caulfield on Wednesday with the $502,000 Group 1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) the feature event with the Peter Snowden-trained Guelph the likely winner. Owned by Sheikh Mohammed, she has won six of 10 starts with two seconds for $1,306,200 in stakes. Guelph has won three times at Group 1 level, twice as a two-year-old and last start in the Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on 5 October.
