Co-trainer Wayne Hawkes is tipping his Randwick Guineas winner Inference will fire with the blinkers on for the first time in Saturday’s Group 1 $3.15m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield.
Inference, above, will wear the blinkers for the first time in the Caulfield Cup. Photo by Steve Hart.
Inference has been unplaced from four Spring Carnival outings and Hawkes said that now was the right time to add the hood to his race day gear.
“He’s done everything right, he’s had a good run into the race, if he’s good enough, he’ll certainly be there,” Hawkes told racing.com.
“That’s (applying the blinkers) always been the plan; we just never said anything about it.
“We had the one-eyed blinker on him in the VRC Derby, and he ran pretty good, so we’ll put the full blinkers back on him and see how he goes tomorrow.”
Inference claimed another Group 1 win for the Hawkes Racing Team when he won the $1m Girvan Waugh Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick during the 2017 Sydney Autumn Carnival.
Inference kicked off his Spring Carnival campaign with one run in Sydney for a sixth to Winx in the Group 2 $250,000 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 19 with Tommy Berry in the saddle.
The Hawkes Team of John, Wayne and Michael then turned their attention to Melbourne with Inference with Dwayne Dunn taking over the reins when the four year old finished ninth to Humidor in the Group 1 $750,000 PFD Food Services Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 16.
Inference then finished sixth to Bonneval in the Group 1 $750,000 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on October 1 before running fifth to Gailo Chop in the Group 1 $1m Ladbrokes Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield last Saturday.
Dunn is staying aboard Inference in the Caulfield Cup and the top Melbourne jockey will be looking to give the four year old a midfield run with cover from barrier eleven.
Inference is at the double figure odds of $16 for the Caulfield Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au who have the Aidan O‘Brien trained Irish stayer Johannes Vermeer at the top of the market order at $4.40 ahead of the classy Kiwi mare Bonneval at $7.50.
The Darren Weir trained Humidor, who will carry the top weight of 56kg, is the third pick in the betting at $8.50 while his stablemate Amelie’s Star is also in contention at $9.50.
