Scottish second in G1 Caulfield Cup

A career-best performance carried a courageous Scottish to within three lengths of a second Godolphin victory in the G1 Caulfield Cup in Melbourne on Saturday, October 15.

In a high-class international field, Scottish (Charlie Appleby/Kerrin McEvoy) had to contend with a slow start, severe interference and, finally, the outstanding filly Jameka, before finishing second.

“To come over here and be in the first three was what we were aiming for,” said trainer Charlie Appleby.

“Full marks to the winner, but he’s turned in an exceptional run after missing the start and doing a lot of extra work. I’m very proud of him.

Scottish’s rider Kerrin McEvoy, who partnered Godolphin’s All The Good (Saeed bin Suroor) to win the 2008 Caulfield Cup, described Scottish’s run as the best in the race. 

“He didn’t jump well and then got a bad bump soon after the start which got him racing very keenly for the first couple of furlongs,” McEvoy said.

“No horse did it tougher. He’s done a remarkable job to finish where he did.”

After their troublesome beginning, Scottish and McEvoy began circling the field with 1600m to run, taking the lead at the halfway point of the 2400m race.

Scottish then set a solid tempo, moving clear entering the short Caulfield straight and briefly looking the winner.

But Jameka, a G1 VRC Oaks winner this time last year and a Derby and Oaks placegetter in Sydney last Autumn, quickly emerged from the chasing pack, edging past Scottish and drawing clear for a three-length victory.

Scottish held second place by three-quarters-of-a-length from Exospheric.

Godolphin’s second runner, the locally-trained Tally (John O’Shea/Brenton Avdulla), finished 12th after rushing across from his outside gate and setting the early pace.

Appleby said Scottish is likely to have another run in Australia, with the G1 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington on November 5 shaping as the likely choice.

Meanwhile, Appleby will have two runners – Qewy and Oceanographer – in the G3 Geelong Cup on Wednesday October 19.

Godolphin’s head Australian trainer John O’Shea has Arab Dawn entered in the same race.

Earlier on the program Peacock (John O’Shea/Dwayne Dunn) maintained the extraordinary winning run being experienced by the Australian stable.

Peacock’s victory in the Listed Gothic Stakes made it nine weekends in succession that a Godolphin horse has won a Stakes race in Australia.