Gallant Caulfield Cup run from Great House
Highclere Australia’s first ever runner in the $5 million Group 1 Carlton Draught Caulfield Cup (2400m), Great House, finished a gallant fifth yesterday in the world’s richest mile and a half handicap.
Given a centimetre-perfect ride by Teo Nugent, who settled Great House further forward than usual, the Irish import burst through on the inside and for a stride or two even hit the front, raising the blood pressure of his many owners and supporters.
It was fleeting, though, as favourite Incentivise stormed down the outside and raced away for a three and a half length success, the biggest winning margin since Might And Power’s phenomenal front-running win in 1997.
Group 1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) Nonconformist chased valiantly in second while, for a moment, it appeared Great House would grab third. However, down on the inside ground that was clearly inferior, he finished on the bottom of a three-way photo, with Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) winner Metropolitan third and Group 3 Bart Cummings (2500m) hero Persan in fourth.
Notably, Great House was the only horse from a single-digit gate to finish in the top six, demonstrating just how difficult it was to perform on that inferior ground near the inside.
“The owners couldn’t be prouder of Great House,” said Highclere Australia racing manager Andrew Hawkins. “It was a tremendous run for a horse who is still probably six to 12 months away from his best.
“All campaign, he’s been looking like a work in progress but now that we are starting to see signs of the finished product, I think it’s clear he’s a top-class stayer in the making.
“It’s been a great training effort from Chris and it is just so exciting because there is so much more to come from him in the weeks and months ahead.’
Hawkins says that the aim now is trying to get Great House into the final field for the $8 million Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 2, with the stayer still well down the order for the prestigious handicap.
“We will need attrition to make the Melbourne Cup field, but there are usually a few that fall away,” Hawkins said. “We will assess where we stand after the next round of acceptances Tuesday week. In the end, Chris will make the call, but we have discussed it and we are aware that we may have to run in the Hotham to be able to make it into the Cup itself.”
The $300,000 Group 3 Lexus Hotham Stakes (2500m) is run on Derby Day, three days before the Melbourne Cup brings the nation to a halt.