Leung Ho Yin, Simon's Bio
Simon is a well respected full-time thoroughbred racing commentator specializing in pedigree and overseas international racing. He is currently the presenter on several racing television programmes including, ‘Horse Racing – Results’, ‘Simulcast Preview'’ and Simulcast oversea races.

Caulfield Racecourse – Track Analysis (Caulfield Cup Day):

Besides Moonee Valley, the Caulfield Racecourse is yet another track in Melbourne so characterized of its intimidating turns and abbreviated stretch runs. Featuring mainly of short straights around this turf strip, forwardly-placed horses, of no regard to distance, often get a slight edge, while runners drawn wide would also find an ideal trip by getting the first jump on the field, and snatching the rail quick to prompt the lead, or sticking with the first flight along the “two path” as soon as possible.

With full fields going to the post almost every year in the featured 2400m Caulfield Cup, positioning is tantamount when runners go by the judge for the first time and scramble for the first turn. Late closers saving ground early may soon be wedged in tight quarters head-long into the final furlong; together with a short stretch that goes just under a 370m to the finish, the 600m marker is certainly a hotspot to make the move, whereas riders need to look for a smart opening to slice through before turning for home, or would find themselves boxed in with nowhere to go otherwise.

In the 2019 running of this prestigious prize on good ground, MEL DE GLACE and VOW AND DECLARE, the eventual quinella, were both dropping towards the back of the field, until this duo moving in tandem from out wide, with MEL DE GLACE in particular that packed a stronger punch to reign supreme, while MIRAGE DANCER, canvassing midfield early, struggled for racing room briefly at the top of the stretch, and was late to the scene for third.

In contrast, with a left-hander almost immediately after the break, coupled with its usual fast pace, runners drawn out wide for the Moonga Stakes and the Tristarc Stakes on the undercard, both over 1400m, are clearly in a tough spot, as they are literally losing ground right from the start.

Reviewing the recent meeting at Caulfield on 10th October, while the going was good, and no portable rail was up, runners saving ground up front or rallying from out wide were getting a slight edge, while it was quite difficult for early leaders to wire the field the whole way. With sunny skies in the Melbourne area that, nevertheless, will give way to some precipitation on Saturday, this year’s renewal of the Caulfield Cup Day may be contested under deteriorating track conditions.

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