Legend Bart's clues to training a Caulfield Cup winner

THE maestro Bart Cummings knows more about winning Caulfield Cups than anyone. Although he doesn't have a runner today, he knows how to win.

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THE maestro Bart Cummings knows more about winning Caulfield Cups than anyone.

Racing's living legend doesn't have a runner in today's big race so he can't improve on his training record of seven wins from Galilee (1966), Big Philou (1969), Leilani (1974), Ming Dynasty (1977 and 1980), Let's Elope (1991) and Viewed (2009) but he still has very definite ideas on how to find the winner.

"I haven't had a good look at the field so I wouldn't want to lead you astray,'' Cummings said when asked for his Caulfield Cup selection.

"The best tip I can give is to follow the pattern of Caulfield Cup winners over the last 20 years.

"If you can follow the pattern, then you can find the winner.''

So, using Bart's theory, a study of Caulfield Cup winners since Fraar in 1993 reveals eight had their final lead-up run in the Turnbull Stakes.

Sky Heights (1999), Northerly (2002) and Elvstroem (2004) completed the Turnbull-Caulfield Cup double but this year's winner, Happy Trails, is not running today.

Of the others Doriemus (1995) improved off his Turnbull second to win the Caulfield Cup, Diatribe (2000) ran third in the Turnbull before winning the Cup while Viewed (2009), Descarado (2010) and Southern Speed (2011) all won the Caulfield Cup after finishing unplaced in the Turnbull Stakes.

In the same period, Railings (2005) and Tawqeet (2006) won The Metropolitan-Caulfield Cup double but this year's winner, Seville, has been saved for another day.

Four Caulfield Cup winners have used the Caulfield Stakes as their final lead-up run but today's field doesn't contain a starter backing up from last week's weight-for-age race, while the Herbert Power Stakes, which has produced two winners in the last 20 years has only fourth emergency Oasis Bloom.

Bart Cummings subscribes to Turnbull Stakes form. Pictured (from left) is Royal Descent, Mr O'Ceirin, Super Cool and Dear Demi, who were all running on at the end of this year's Turnbull.

The three northern hemisphere-trained Caulfield Cup winners, Taufan's Melody (1998), All The Good (2008) and Dunaden (2012) did not have a lead-up run in Australia, which leaves only Might And Power (1997) who came out of an unplaced Epsom Handicap run to romp home by seven lengths at Caulfield.

Cummings said it was too difficult for him to get a handle on today's northern hemisphere-trained stayers, Dandino and Forgotten Voice.

"I just don't know enough about them,'' he said.

"But there you go, you have answered your own question, the Turnbull Stakes, that's the key race. Why change it.

"You can find the Caulfield Cup winner from that race.''

There 10 Caulfield Cup runners today who had their previous starts in the Turnbull Stakes.

Fawnkner ran best at Flemington finishing third in the Turnbull but there was a number of luckless runners behind him, no more so than Hawkspur (fifth), Silent Achiever (sixth), Jet Away (seventh), Dear Demi (eighth), Mr O'Ceirin (10th), Royal Descent (11th). Glencadam Gold (14th) and Manighar.

"There are a few things you need to win this race,'' Cummings added. "Firstly, you need a horse with the ability to stay and have a good burst at the finish.

"A horse can't pull during the race, they have to relax, because they usually go at a genuine staying speed, and it is a tough mile and a half (2400m).''

The best runs out of the Turnbull were Fawkner, Hawkspur, Silent Achiever, Jet Away, Dear Demi and Royal Descent.

If Cummings is right, and he usually is, then your Caulfield Cup winner can be found in this group of six.

BART'S CAULFIELD CUP WISDOM

*Stick to what has worked in the past

*The Turnbull Stakes is traditionally the key form race

*This year's Turnbull winner Happy Trails is not in the Cup, so look for the best runs behind him.

*They were Fawkner, Hawkspur, Silent Achiever, Jet Away, Dear Demi and Royal Descent.