Australian Derby placegetter Hardham might be at long odds for Saturday’s Group 1 $3.15m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield but will be suited by the distance and the track conditions.
Hardham ran a brave third behind Caulfield Cup rival Jon Snow and Harper’s Choice on a heavy track in the Group 1 $2m BMW Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick during the 2017 Sydney Autumn Carnival.
Mornington trainer David Brideoake is looking forward to getting Hardham back up to the 2400m on a good racing surface and expects the four year to be given every chance from barrier eight with Craig Newitt on board.
“The trip suits him. The Derby in Sydney didn’t suit him as it was on unsuitable ground and he did struggle and was gallant in what he did and Caulfield on this firm surface will suit him,” Brideoake said.
“It’s a helter skelter race but from eight you are better than you are from sixteen.”
Newitt takes over from Luke Nolen who was aboard Hardham in the Australian Derby and his three Spring Carnival runs to date.
Hardham resumed for a first up seventh to Grand Rosso in a 1400m Handicap at Caulfield on September 2 before winning over 1700m at Flemington two weeks later.
The Redoute’s Choice stallion heads into the Caulfield Cup on the back of a last start second to Wheal Leisure in the $250,000 Inglis Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on October 1.
Hardham is listed as one of the outsiders of the Caulfield Cup field at $41 with Irish stayer Johannes Vermeer as the $4.40 favourite.
The Darren Weir trained Humidor and high class Kiwi mare Bonneval share the second line of betting at $8 just ahead of The Bart Cummings winner Amelie’s Star at $9 and the Lindsay Park trained Harlem at $9.50.
– racing.com
