Racing: Moudre misses easy Cup start

Jockey Craig Williams rides Moudre to win race 7 during Memsie Stakes Day at Caulfield. Photo / Getty Images

Caulfield Cup favourite Moudre is still not a certain starter in the A$2.5 million event after he failed to win Saturday's Naturalism Stakes at Caulfield.

The Blevic 5-year-old needed to win the group three event to escape the ballot but remains equal 45th in the elimination order into the 2400m feature on October 16.

Ridden by Craig Williams, Moudre (A$2.70 fav) settled well back in 12th place of the 14 runners and had only one horse behind him at the 800m of the 2000m race.

He powered home in the straight to fail by a neck and a head behind the winner, Rainbow Styling (A$14), who is not in the Cup, and VRC Oaks runnerup Valdemoro (A$13).

Warrnambool trainer Ciaron Maher was unperturbed, though. "I'm not overly concerned. Maybe the Caulfield Cup is not his race.

"Flemington suits him better and I'll try and get him into the Melbourne Cup.

"He could go to the Turnbull [Stakes over 2000m at Flemington on October 2], which is up a couple of grades from this, or to the Herbert Power [Stakes over 2400m at Caulfield a week later].

"He could back up from the Herbert Power into the Caulfield Cup but I don't want to bottom him out for Flemington so there is a bit to weigh up."

Moudre was having his first try at 2000m on Saturday and must also qualify for the Melbourne Cup.

"He's shown he's a very strong stayer. Craig said the track beat him as he couldn't make ground around the home turn," Maher said.

"He said he was flat out from the 600m."

Rainbow Styling was given a good on-pace ride by Chris Munce to upset several Caulfield Cup hopefuls.

"He's certainly not the elite but he's a 6-year-old gelding by Zabeel and he's just starting to hit his straps, that's what sons of Zabeel can do," Wayne Hawkes, who co-trains the horse with his father John and his brother Michael, said on Saturday.

"Today was his target. We were just happy to bring him to Melbourne for a race like this. He doesn't run the 2400m, 2200m is about as far as he wants to go."

The Murray and Bjorn Baker-trained Harris Tweed enjoyed a good run on the outer about fifth and sixth but did not sprint when the pressure was applied over the last 400m.

He raced a little dour and may now need the 2400m of the Caulfield Cup.

The news was no better for the stable at Rosehill, where their runner Lion Tamer was well beaten in the Gloaming Stakes (1800m).

He had won the Ming Dynasty at his first Sydney appearance but was only seventh.

"I can't explain it," Bjorn Baker said. "We'll get blood tests done but he was disappointing.

"There's no obvious reason and he worked really well during the week."

An explosive victory at his first Sydney appearance has rocketed the winner of the event, Retrieve, into calculations for the Spring Champion Stakes.

The Darley colt had done all his racing in Melbourne but showed his Sydney rivals a clean pair of heels to beat stablemate Erewhon by 2 lengths.

The 2008 Spring Champion Stakes was trainer Peter Snowden's first group one success for Darley and the premier trainer said Retrieve had the credentials to win the 2000m race on October 2.

"He is a nice horse, he's always shown ability and staying potential," Snowden said.

"He is definitely going to the Spring Champion. The 2000m will be his forte.

"We'll wait and see with Erewhon. He's run a tremendous race after doing the hard work in front."

Group one-placed filly Sasa was sent out the A$2.15 favourite but was unable to hold the lead with Erewhon taking over early.

She boxed on in second for the most part but her efforts told and she finished fourth, with Praecido chasing the Darley pair for third, three lengths from Erewhon.

- AAP