Racing: Caulfield Cup bubble bursts for Alcopop

Zavite will be hoping for good footing in the Cup. Photo / Natalie Slade

MELBOURNE - Alcopop has lost his spot at the top of the betting after drawing the outside barrier in Saturday's Caulfield Cup.

The Jeune 6-year-old, who returned to his best form with a slashing second to So You Think in last Saturday's Yalumba Stakes, will jump from 18 if the four emergencies come out.

The last Caulfield Cup winner to jump from there was Lord Reims, who led all the way under Brent Thomson in heavy going in 1987.

Apart from outstanding mare Let's Elope, who won from 17 in 1991, the widest winning barriers since have been 13 for Mannerism (1992), Mummify (2003) and Viewed last year.

For the first time at a Caulfield Cup draw, connections could pick which barrier they wanted of the ones left after their horse's name was drawn and trainer Jake Stephens said the ideal draw for Alcopop would have been seven.

"It's one of those things, you can't do anything about it," Stephens said.

"With the winter weather and the track, you never know - they might be finishing on down the outside."

The track was downgraded to a slow (6) before the start of yesterday's Thousand Guineas meeting because of persistent overnight and morning rain.

"He won on a slow seven at Moonee Valley last year [in the JRA Cup]," Stephens said.

"Obviously, I'd prefer it a bit firmer. A dead four or five would be nice."

Stephens said he would not be altering race tactics with Alcopop, who normally settles back and runs on.

He said he would have a talk with jockey Mark Zahra before Saturday.

Alcopop has drifted from A$6.50 after yesterday's announcement of the Caulfield Cup field to A$9 after the barrier draw with TAB Sportsbet, leaving Sydney gallopers Herculian Prince and Metal Bender as A$6 equal favourites ahead of Shocking at A$7.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained Herculian Prince will jump from barrier six, while the Chris Waller-trained Metal Bender drew two but will jump from one if second emergency Red Ruler does not gain a start.

Reigning Melbourne Cup winner Shocking drew gate 12.

Bart Cummings' Melbourne stable foreman Reg Fleming picked barriers seven and eight respectively for stablemates Faint Perfume and Dariana, both at A$10. They could give the master trainer his eighth win in the race.

"He [Cummings] just said, 'Don't stuff it up because you won't be doing it again,"' Fleming quipped.

Cummings has been recovering from a fractured pelvis which he suffered in a fall at home.

Fleming said a soft track would suit VRC Oaks winner Faint Perfume but not Queensland Derby winner Dariana.

"Faint Perfume has won in the heavy so it won't worry her, but it's unfortunate for Dariana, because she likes a good track."

Fleming said Faint Perfume would wear blinkers for the first time to sharpen her up a bit.

"She's come in a bit gross and she's taken a while to get fit."

The Luca Cumani-trained Manighar is best fancied of the internationals at A$11 after drawing nicely in barrier three, ahead of Hong Kong horse Mr Medici, who is at A$18 after drawing wide in barrier 16.

Veteran Japanese stayer Tokai Trick drew gate 21 and is at A$35.

In other spring carnival news, Sydney trainer Anthony Cummings will give Shadows In The Sun his chance to prove his Victoria Derby credentials in the AAMI Vase at Moonee Valley on October 23.

Cummings said the 3-year-old showed staying promise and he was impressed with his strong finish to land the Pura Light Start Plate (1600m) at Caulfield yesterday.

Ridden by Michael Walker, Shadows In The Sun chased hard in the home straight to score a long neck win over pacemaker Crawfish with Absolutelyawesome a nose away third.

Walker picked up the ride when apprentice Brenton Avdulla was delayed for 2 hours on a flight from Sydney because of fog in Melbourne. Walker had earlier been engaged for Cummings' scratched runner Plastic Fantastic.

Shadows In The Sun has won twice in 10 starts and last campaign was fourth in the TJ Smith (1600m) at Eagle Farm in June.

"He's still got a lot to learn. He still does a lot wrong in his races. You saw that in the last furlong, but he has loads of talent. He is a nice horse going places," said Cummings.

"He does hit the line very well and he's got that good attitude where he can switch off and do what you ask him."

Cummings said Craig Newitt rode him in the TJ Smith and told him the Dane Shadow gelding had good staying promise.

Walker said Shadows In The Sun won, despite not handling the track and that he ripped off his goggles after 300m so he could see through the mud.

"The track is definitely a lot worse than it's rated [slow six] ... bordering on a heavy track."

Cummings' good stayer Zavite has drawn 19 in the Caulfield Cup, which, with the scratchings of the emergencies means he will leave from 15.

However, the last Auckland Cup winner will probably struggle should the track be any worse than dead, with nine of his 10 wins coming on footing rated as good.

- AAP