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.

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...
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.