POTENTIAL LEADERS
There looks to be four main speed influences/potential leaders in the 2025 Caulfield Cup. From wider barriers, Lindsay Park-trained pair Bankers Choice and Plymouth will likely roll forward, while Adelaide River and River Of Stars are the other two potential leaders rising to 2400m.
THE FAVOURITE
Half Yours (barrier two) showed the ability to settle closer to the lead from an inside barrier two starts ago in the Naturalism Stakes, where he settled fifth on the rail and still ran the fastest last 200m of the race. I’d expect jockey Jamie Melham finds herself in either the third or fourth pair on the rail, however, if there is less speed than expected in the early stages, it wouldn’t be a shock if she settles on the back of the leaders.
WIDE BARRIERS
Stablemates Bankers Choice (barrier 14) and Plymouth (17) likely roll forward and settle on the speed from their wide draws, while the Chris Waller-trained pair Valiant King (16) and Land Legend (15) likely go back and settle towards the rear from their wide barriers. The query runners are Japanese mare Golden Snap (18) and Vauban (13), who will both have to make a decision early as to whether they go forward and risk being trapped wide or go back.
