Little Canberra mare punching above her weight in Caulfield Cup

Brad Waters - Wednesday October 18

If Saturday's Caulfield Cup was a boxing bout, Single Gaze wouldn't be able to compete in the heavyweight division.

Advertisement
Single Gaze won't be backing away from bigger opponents in the Caulfield Cup.

The game mare only weighed 431kg on Monday and will give away up to 70kg to her heavier rivals in the $3 million event.

Her light frame hasn't stopped Single Gaze amassing more than $1.6 million in stakes in a career that started with a win as a pre-Christmas two-year-old in November 2014.

Punters dismissed the slight filly on that occasion as well before she stormed home after a slow beginning to beat a field that included subsequent Golden Rose winner Exosphere and Group III winner Counterattack at $81.

Being small has not prevented Single Gaze scoring a Group III win at Kembla Grange, a Group I victory at Rosehill and a Group II success in Brisbane in partnership with regular jockey Kathy O'Hara.

But now a Caulfield Cup, historically a brutal race, awaits the little daughter of Not A Single Doubt on Saturday and her Canberra-based trainer Nick Olive has her right for her toughest assignment.

Olive has given Single Gaze a hard trio of runs in the Makybe Diva, Underwood and last Saturday's Ladbrokes Stakes in which the five-year-old has competed well with Caulfield Cup fancies Humidor, Bonneval, Gailo Chop and Johannes Vermeer at weight-for-age.

"She has just kept on running well and we can't fault her," Olive said.

"She's so tough and she just keeps improving with racing so we're really looking forward to Saturday."

A seven-day back-up between the Ladbrokes Stakes and Caulfield Cup meant Olive only gave Single Gaze a light canter to stretch her legs at Caulfield on Tuesday morning.

One could be forgiven for thinking a seven-day back-up would not suit Single Gaze but she handled a short turnaround well in Brisbane in the winter, winning the PJ O'Shea Stakes (2200m) on June 3 before running second to Chocante in the Brisbane Cup a week later.

"The seven-day back-up won't be a problem," Olive said. "She handled it really well in Brisbane and the main thing that beat her that day was the outside barrier."

Olive had one fear before Tuesday's barrier draw but that was allayed when she drew barrier 12.

"Barrier one or two would have been the worst place for her," Olive said.

The rest is up to O'Hara and the little chestnut mare in their attempt to beat the big boys in the Caulfield Cup.

Sportsbet has Single Gaze as a $34 chance to give Canberra a Caulfield Cup win.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Hello Youmzain Filly Chasing Another Stakes Win
The Lisa Latta-trained pair of Platinum Diamond and Brutiful Lass will bid to end their juvenile season in perfect fashion at Otaki on Saturday when they tackle the Listed Phils Electrical & Gipsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m).
Inglis Digital Now Online - G1 Winner Velocious the Star
The G1-winning Champion 2YO Velocious (Written Tycoon) has been joined by a host of outstanding racing and breeding prospects in a tantalising Inglis Digital July (Late) Online Sale catalogue.
Lookalike Star Turn Colt Franks Hot Form Race
When Angel Ladder won the first race at Geelong coming out of the VRC Next Gen Series Sprinters Final won by Jimmy Recard, you would think punters would have looked closely at Redders in the following event coming out of the same race, but he slipped under their guard.
Spring Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
Spring was in the air at Warwick Farm on Friday morning with a couple of heats for Group and Listed winners that included Lady Shenandaoh, Ceolwulf, plus Cups contender Sir Delius (GB).
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
Spring was in the air at the Warwick Farm trials with some of the big banger older stars in action and some exciting rising three year-olds that include a filly that has potential superstar written all over her.
Kiwi stayer Mark Twain on Comeback Trail
One-time Melbourne Cup fancy Mark Twain will make his first public appearance for more than 12 months when the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained gelding has an exhibition gallop at Te Rapa on Saturday.
St Mark’s Basilica Filly Impressive at Ascot
Due back at Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had an impressive new winner overnight at Ascot in the UK where Princess Petrol stormed to victory.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Expensive North Pacific Salutes at Geelong
The highest priced yearling for first season sire North Pacific, promising two year-old filly Angel Ladder opened her account with a tenacious win at Geelong on Friday.
Sires With Winners - Friday July 25
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.