Hawkspur's horror as Caulfield Cup favourite draws wide alley

LATEST BETTING: CAULFIELD Cup favourite Hawkspur had a shocker at this morning's barrier draw, coming up with gate 16 for Saturday's feature race.

Caufield Cup favourite Hawkspur drew barrier 16 for Saturday's race. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

CAULFIELD Cup favourite Hawkspur had a shocker at this morning's barrier draw, coming up with gate 16 for Saturday's Group 1 2400m feature race.

Hawkspur, one of trainer Chris Waller's four hopes for the race, was immediately eased from $4.40 to $4.60 with the TAB, but retains favouritism ahead of stablemate Royal Descent, who firmed from $7.50 to $6.50 after drawing barrier three.

It makes it an even tougher task for Hawkspur's jockey Jim Cassidy, who is chasing his 100th Group 1 victory aboard the four-year-old.

International galloper Dandino, whose stable was confident of a top-three finish if he drew a favourable gate, copped the visitor's draw with gate 19. He has since drifted from $7 to $8.

Kiwi mare Silent Achiever firmed from $9.50 to $8 after drawing barrier 5, while Clarry Conners’ mare Dear Demi drew the outside barrier (22) and eased in betting from $13 to $17.

Of Waller's other runners, Kelinni drew barrier one ($41) while Moriarty drifted from $26 out to $31 after coming up with barrier 18.

Third emergency Ibicenco (barrier nine) has been scratched after being kicked by another horse, and will instead be aimed at next Wednesday's Geelong Cup.

$2.5M GROUP 1 CAULFIELD CUP (2400M)
Saturday, 5.45pm

Horse, barrier, trainer, jockey, weight, odds

1 MANIGHAR (11) Peter Moody, Luke Nolen, 58kg, $41

2 DANDINO (GB) (19), Marco Botti, Craig Williams, 56.5kg $8

3 ETHIOPIA (14) Pat Carey, Rhys McLeod, 56.5kg $31

4 WALDPARK (Ger) (8) Anthony Freedman, Brenton Avdulla 56kg $41

5 GLENCADAM GOLD (Ire) (6) Gai Waterhouse Tommy Berry 55.5kg $31

6 MR MOET (10) Adam Durrant Hugh Bowman 55.5kg $31

7 FAWKNER (12) Robert Hickmott Nick Hall 55kg $12

8 JET AWAY (GB) (13) David Hayes Damien Oliver 55kg $11

9 KELINNI (Ire) (1) Chris Waller Steve Arnold 55kg $41

10  MORIARTY (Ire) (18) Chris Waller Craig Newitt 55kg $31

11 MY QUEST FOR PEACE (Ire) (4) Peter Moody Corey Brown 55kg $51

12 HAWKSPUR (16) Chris Waller Jim Cassidy 54.5kg $4.60

13 JULIENAS (Ire) (15) Gai Waterhouse Kerrin McEvoy 54.5 $26

14 MR O’CEIRIN (20) Ciaron Maher, Mark Zahra 54.5kg (inc 0.15kg pen) $26

15 SILENT ACHIEVER (NZ) (5) Roger James, Glen Boss, 54.53kg $8

16 ROYAL DESCENT (3) Chris Waller, Nash Rawiller, 54kg $6.50

17 TUSCAN FIRE (2) Dan O’Sullivan, Luke Currie, 53.5kg $51

18 DEAR DEMI (22) Clarrie Conners James McDonald 53kg $17

Emergencies

19 FORGOTTEN VOICE (Ire) (7) Nicky Henderson 54.5kg $41

20 SNEAK A PEEK (17) Peter Moody Undecided 54kg $101

21 IBICENCO (Ger) (9) Peter Moody 54kg $101 SCRATCHED

22 OASIS BLOOM (21)  P Morgan & C Widdison Undecided 51.5kg $126
Odds: TAB