Race on for ballot exemption at Caulfield
A total of 33 horses still in contention for the Caulfield Cup have been entered to run on the first day of the carnival at Caulfield.
Of the 18 nominations for Saturday’s Group One Caulfield Stakes, 12 remain in the field for the $5 million Caulfield Cup a week later.
And of the 26 entered for the Herbert Power Stakes, 24 are entered for the Cup.
Victory in the Caulfield Stakes (2000m) and the Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) gain the winner an exemption from the ballot.
The Caulfield Cup field is restricted to 18 with four emergencies.
The Lloyd and Nick Williams-owned Homesman and The Taj Mahal are entered in both races along with Sedanzer from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable.
Homesman earned a ballot exemption by winning the Underwood Stakes at his last start while The Taj Mahal sits equal 16th on the ballot order and appears safely in the field with Sedanzer 33rd.
Caulfield Stakes entrants safely in the Caulfield Cup include Night’s Watch, Comin’ Through, Cliffs Of Moher, Unforgotten, Harlem, Tosen Basil and Egg Tart.
The highest-rated Caulfield Cup entrant in the Herbert Power is Big Duke who is 31st in the ballot order and needs to win to be assured of a start.
Last year’s Herbert Power winner Lord Fandango went on to finish fourth in the Caulfield Cup and is attempting to force his way into the race again this year and is currently 46th in the order of entry.
Second declarations for the Caulfield Cup are taken on Tuesday which will give a clearer picture for those runners on Saturday chasing a Cup start.
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