Could a sweet treat provide a tasty Caulfield upset?

Ben Dorries - Friday September 29

Phillip Stokes feels Eclair Sunshine may have the measure of his Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) rivals – with one very notable exception.

Who doesn't love an eclair? Phillip Stokes is plotting a big racing upset with Eclair Sunshine

It took a rising superstar to beat the South Australian gelding last time when he hit the lead in the Exford Plate at Flemington and was only just nabbed on the line by Royal Symphony.

While Royal Symphony would have been a tragic tale if beaten, Eclair Sunshine came from midfield and was brave in defeat.

The son of All Too Hard is a $10 chance on Sportsbet for Sunday's Caulfield Guineas Prelude in a rematch with Royal Symphony ($2.05 fav).

Adelaide trainer Stokes doesn't sound too worried about other rivals such as Kementari and he feels Eclair Sunshine would be the one to beat if Royal Symphony wasn't in the field.

But Stokes concedes it may be only bad luck – or possibly the Caulfield track – which could beat Royal Symphony.

It is also worth noting that Royal Symphony stays at 1400m and trainer Tony McEvoy has made it clear the Guineas on October 14 is his clear mission and his grand final.

"No-one seems to be giving Eclair Sunshine a hope, but I certainly do," Stokes said.

"Having said that, we will probably need Royal Symphony to have bad luck to be beating him.

"Who knows though, Caulfield is a very different track and that could throw a spanner in the works for the favourite.

"All I can say is I am extremely happy with my horse and he has trained up really well for this race.

"If Royal Symphony wasn't in the field I'd be pretty confident (about winning)."

Eclair Sunshine had a spin around Caulfield on Tuesday and race jockey Regan Bayliss was pleased with his work.

Stokes believes the penny is only now starting to drop for the gelding who was a bit of a handful earlier in his career.

Providing he runs well on Sunday, Stokes indicated it will be all systems go for the $2m Caulfield Guineas.

"From day one I thought this horse had really good ability and was really exciting, but early on he was too eager to please and overdid things a bit," Stokes said.

"He did a few things wrong again in the race the other day but he is learning and improving all the time.

"From a good gate on Sunday I'd expect us to be one pair or two pairs back.

"We will just have to hope Royal Symphony has a bit of bad luck back in the field."

Stokes has been a regular visitor to Melbourne during the spring in recent years and has had plenty of success, including with Hucklebuck who won the 2014 Group I Emirates Stakes.

Éclair Sunshine is $18 in Sportsbet's Caulfield Guineas market and is $26 with Ladbrokes.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.