The definition of cornucupia is an abundant supply of good things, full to overflowing.
Well, if you are one of Australia’s top owners, breeders, trainers and especially jockeys, you certainly do get the chance to drink deep from the horn of plenty on a day like today, where millions of dollars of prizemoney is up for grabs at both Caulfield and Randwick.
It’s a great day for the disruptors as The Everest, the upstart race which has quickly captured the imagination of Australia (if not the world) is being run in Sydney.
For traditionalists it is still a huge day with the Caulfield Cup being contested in Melbourne.
But it is fair to say that the staying test has lost some of it’s lustre as the nouveau riche Everest has hogged the headlines and garnered most of the online clicks in the build up to both races.
The big winners – whoever passes the post first in either event or the rich support races (particularly in Sydney, where millions of dollars are on offer) – are in all likelihood going to be those who already have plenty but are driven in their pursuit of ever more.
Sure, there may be the chance for one of the smaller yards to pull off what would be an upset, but despite the growth of multiple ownership syndicates designed to give smaller players their chance of success, the days of the battling trainer or rider getting on to a great horse and having their day in the sun are largely confined to the history books.
Look at the Caulfield Cup field. There is probably only one runner who would attract fairytale success headlines if he succeeded: John Symons and Sheila Laxon saddle up Knight’s Choice, to be ridden by the expatriate Queensland based Irishman Robbie Dolan (better known to the Victorian public for his appearances on The Voice than his record in the saddle). Given that he is around $151 in the markets it is unlikely.
The rest of the Cup field contains gallopers either trained by or ridden by the leading jockeys and trainers, often a combination of the two.
The big races have always largely been the province of the most successful, but not, it feels, to the extent that they are these days. It’s not impossible for a Vic Rail and Vo Rogue, a Joe Janiek and Takeover Target to come along now, but the odds are ever lengthening.
In the Caulfield Cup Chris Waller has three representatives, Ciaron Maher four: that is almost half the 18 strong field in a race which this year has copped more than usual criticism.
It must be said that it does look like a race with a long tail given the top weight is Kalapour, with 55 kilos, just ahead of Irish import Buckaroo, who will be partnered by Brazilian superstar Joao Moreira while further international interest is provided by Japanese raider Warp Speed.
Buckaroo was held in high enough regard as a young horse when with Joseph O’Brien in Ireland and was considered promising enough to be aimed at the Irish 2000 Guineas, where he finished sixth behind Native Trail.
His form in Australia following his purchase by a syndicate to run in the well known colours of Ozzie Kheir was initially patchy, but he seems to have hit his stride now and will likely start favourite given he showed his liking for the track with a win in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes before a narrow loss at Flemington to Via Sistina in the Group 1 Turnbull.
The one fly in the ointment for him is the distance: at his only try over 2400 metres he finished fifth of eight behind Kalapour in the group 1 Tancred Stakes last autumn, and there was little evidence from his Irish form that the O’Brien stable saw him as a stayer, given the longest distance he contested for that yard was 2000 metres, and then only once.
Still, he has a definite class edge and will be difficult to beat in race where it seems perverse that the weights have not risen so that the top weight carries at least 57 kilos. How hard would it have been to make that call – and give most jockeys, who nowadays struggle to ride lower down the scale, the chance to gain a mount in what is still a prestigious event.
Still, the decision does give some of the lesser known types the chance to grab their day in the limelight, so Harry Coffey, Ben Thompson, Carleen Heffel, Ronnie Stewart and Teo Nugent will be hoping that fortune smiles on them and gives them the chance to share in their biggest career payday.