The old adage that “patience is a virtue” can be rewarded by Buckhurst in the $5 million Caulfield Cup.
The Joseph O’Brien-trained five-year-old – appropriately by Australia – could have come to Melbourne last spring but his connections decided to wait for another year to allow him to further develop and mature.
That policy is expected to pay dividends in the Cup now that Buckhurst has become an undeniable chance after the skilful Ben Melham has been engaged and he has drawn barrier nine.
With a record of four wins and three seconds from his 10 outings Buckhurst has been carefully placed by O’Brien with his outings being primarily in Listed and Group 3 events.
He registered three of his victories last year and has progressed since defeating the well-regarded Sir Dragonet in the Alleged Stakes over 10 furlongs at The Curragh on June 27.
A sixth in the Group 1 Tatt’s Gold Cup on July 26 was followed by a nice finishing fifth in the Kilternan Stakes over 12 furlongs at Leopardstown on September 12, when he conceded the Melbourne Cup favourite Tiger Moth 5kg.
It will be remembered that in 2017 O’Brien’s Rekindling defeated his father’s Johannes Vermeer in the Melbourne Cup and the Caulfield Cup might result in a similar outcome with Aidan being represented by Anthony Van Dyke.
While Anthony Van Dyke has an outstanding record he has to lump topweight of 58.5 and has the disadvantage of having drawing barrier 21. .
Also a five-year-old Anthony Van Dyke first showed his ability as a juvenile by winning the Group 2 Futurity Stakes, over seven furlongs, before finishing third behind the classy colts Too Darn Hot and Advertise in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.
He continued on to win 2018 English Derby, over 12 furlongs, and then recorded placings in the Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Anthony Van Dyke has added more to his curriculum vitae this year with a second to the world’s highest rated horse Ghaiyyath in the Coronation Cup before outpointing champion stayer Stradivarius in the Group 2 Prix Foy (2400m) at Longchamp.
Right in calculations is Mirage Dancer, who made his Australian debut when a luckless third in last year’s Caulfield Cup. In the care of Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young he has had a thorough grounding and this enabled him to overcome the highly capable Mugatoo in the closing stages of The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick two weeks ago.
Internationals – Best Solution and Mer De Glace – have won the last two Cups and this year’s representation is strong with another import in Finche being right in contention with star jockey Damien Lane aboard.
He was a meritorious fifth in last year’s running and demonstrated he is right on target when just pipped by his Chris Waller-trained stablemates Verry Elleegant and Toffee Tongue in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 3.
Significantly two of Verry Elleegant’s five Group 1 successes have been over 2400m and Mark Zahra will surely allow her every opportunity. Like Finche, Verry Elleegant will be even better suited if there is some “give” in the ground.
Yet another import, Master of Wine, came to Australia with quite a reputation and this was substantiated when he trounced his rivals in the City Tatts Cup (2400m) at Randwick last October.
He won two of three in the autumn and his efforts when just out of the placings in the Makybe Diva (1600m) and Turnbull Stakes suggest he is ready to peak.
Royal Ascot winner Dashing Willoughby is also a contender as indicated by victories at Newmarket and Sandown – where Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter was third – which led into a fighting fourth over two miles at York in September. Importantly, too, he has the pace to take advantage of barrier 1 now that Aktau, who drew the inside has been scratched.
Selections
- Buckhurst [4]
- Anthony Van Dyck [1]
- Mirage Dancer [5]
- Master Of Wine [11]
- Finche [9]
