Caulfield Cup Hopes Top 2017 Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes Field

A line-up of stayers potentially backing up in the Caulfield Cup Saturday week face off this weekend at the Caulfield track in the Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes 2017 field.

Three-time Group 1 winning mare Bonneval races in the 2017 Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes on Saturday on way to the Caulfield Cup. Photo: Steve Hart.

Current $4.60 favourite in futures betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Group 1 $3 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 21 is the flying New Zealand-trained mare Bonneval.

The Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman-trained four-year-old daughter of Makfi will have her final lead-up into the mile and a half spring feature on Saturday in the Group 1 $1 million Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes (2000m).

Set to run as Caulfield Race 7 at 3:50pm (AEDT) as part of the bumper 10-race Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas Day card, this year’s Ladbrokes Stakes field features 11 hopefuls and Bonneval jumps from the outside barrier.

Jockey Damian Lane is back aboard the NZ Oaks – ATC Oaks winner after riding her to victory first-up at The Valley in the Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m).

Bonneval made it six straight wins second-up on October 1 in her first Caulfield start, Hugh Bowman guiding her to victory in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m).

Success again on the weekend will see Bonneval firm further in Caulfield Cup betting to hand co-trainer Baker with his second win in the classic after the victory of Mongolian Khan in 2015 who also came out of the Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes (3^rd).

Winx beat home just two rivals in last year’s Ladbrokes Stakes and she along with Atlantic Jewel (2013) are the only mares to win the race since Tristarc (1985).

Bonneval is out to do the Underwood Stakes – Caulfield Stakes double for the first time since the fellow Kiwi-trained Ocean Park (2012).

The stable have also accepted for their Caulfield Cup – Melbourne Cup nominated four-year-old stallion Jon Snow who backs-up from a Moonee Valley win in the Group 3 JRA Cup (2040m).

Winner of the Group 1 ATC Derby (2400m) during the autumn, Jon Snow is drawn barrier nine on Saturday with Stephen Baster retaining the ride.

The other major player in Saturday’s Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes field is the Godolphin-raced Hartnell in barrier seven with Glyn Schofield in the saddle of the multiple Group 1 winner.

Hartnell’s performance on the weekend will help trainer James Cummings decide whether the horse backs-up in the Caulfield Cup, or is saved for the Group 1 $3 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) on October 28.

The Authorized gelding contested last year’s Cox Plate finishing eight lengths back second behind Winx who made history with the winning margin.

Winx chases a third Cox Plate victory on the trot this season on the back of a six and a half-length Flemington win in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m).

This prep seven-year-old Hartnell has had three runs, the latest producing a second when a length off Bonneval in the Underwood Stakes.

The stable are confident however he can return to winning form getting out over 2000m this weekend, a distance he boasts a strong record over (11-4-3-1).

Adding even more depth to the race is the acceptance of two international spring raiders.

Ireland’s Aidan O’Brien has Johannes Vermeer racing first-up in the event, while Glen Boss will partner fellow Irish galloper Riven Light for William Mullins.

Check out the full Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes 2017 field and barriers below, updated odds set for release shortly at Ladbrokes.com.au.

2017 Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw

Caulfield Race 7 (3:50pm) – 14/10/2017