Kerrin chases perfect Group 1 week with Caulfield Cup outsider Julienas

SPEED MAP: CHAMPION jockey Kerrin McEvoy can continue his Group 1 "golden run" when he partners Julienas in the Caulfield Cup on Saturday.

Kerrin McEvoy guides Guelph to a dominant Thousand Guineas victory at Caulfield on Wednesday.

CHAMPION jockey Kerrin McEvoy can continue his Group 1 "golden run" when he partners Sydney stayer Julienas in the $2.5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

McEvoy has been in imperious form this spring winning three majors already this month, his classic ride on Long John in the Caulfield Guineas sandwiched between his wins on Guelph in the Flight Stakes and Thousand Guineas.

Both three-year-olds were favourites in their big race wins but Julienas is rated only a $26 chance for the Caulfield Cup.

But McEvoy has engineered a Caulfield Cup upset previously when he won on $41 outsider All The Good five years ago and he is going into Saturday's race believing Julienas is one of the better chances in an open race.

"I'm looking forward to riding Julienas,'' said McEvoy, who is wasting hard to peel 3.5kg from his lean frame to ride Long John at .5kg in the Cox Plate next week.

"This is a step up in grade but he goes into the Caulfield Cup as a last start Group 1 placegetter.

"He is dropping in weight, he's very fit, and he's going to run a good race.

"Whether he is good enough to win, I'm not sure, but I will try and give him every chance.''

In a Caulfield Cup devoid of in-form horses - the only last-start winners are the two internationals Dandino and first emergency Forgotten Voice, and both haven't started for a month - Julienas goes in to the race after a very consistent Sydney spring campaign.

Kerrin McEvoy guides Guelph to a dominant Thousand Guineas victory at Caulfield on Wednesday.

From five starts this preparation, Julienas won the Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality, ran seconds in Group 1 The Metropolitan and Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup, third in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes and a fourth in the Listed Wong Cup.

Trainer Gai Waterhouse made a strong case for Julienas and her other Caulfield Cup runner, Glencadam Gold when approached by The Daily Telegraph at trackwork yesterday.

"Julienas is your long shot in the Caulfield Cup,'' Waterhouse said.

"He is absolutely flying in his work. He has been carrying big weights in Sydney and his form is very good.

"Glencadam Gold was favourite for this race last year and this time he is flying under everyone's radar.

"The punters should be having something on the both of them.''

McEvoy said his international contacts suggest Dandino will be very hard to beat.

"Dandino should be very competitive in a Caulfield Cup,'' he said.

"He can travel well and quicken up so 2400m around Caulfield should suit him.''

Dandino is trying to become the fourth northern hemisphere-trained stayer to win the Caulfield Cup after Taufan's Melody (1998), All The Good (2008) and Dunaden (2012).

Speed map