The 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Caulfield WFA Championship is set to go right down to the wire in Saturday's fourth and final leg, the A$1 million Group One Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes (2000m).
Depending on Saturday's result, any one of four horses could be crowned the winner of this year's Championship.
Hartnell (Authorized) tops the table with 14 points. He has gone winless through this year's Series, but finished third in the Group Two P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m), fourth in the Group One New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1600m) and fourth in the Group One Underwood Stakes (1800m).
The result of this year's Championship is now out of Hartnell's hands, with the A$7 million earner bypassing Saturday's race.
The horses trying to take his place at the top of the points table are lack Heart Bart (Blackfriars), Gailo Chop (Deportivo) and omesman (War Front).
Eighth in the Memsie Stakes, Black Heart Bart took his total to 11 points with a superb last-start victory in the Underwood Stakes. Homesman and Gailo Chop were second and third in that race, earning 8 and 6 points respectively.
With 10 points available to the winner of Saturday's Caulfield Stakes, the Caulfield WFA Championship title is very much up for grabs. There are also 8 points available for second, 6 for third, 4 for fourth, 3 for fifth and 1 point each for sixth, seventh and eighth.
Saturday's field also features some well-credentialled newcomers to the Series. Avilius (Pivotal) has won three Group One races in Sydney in 2019, while overseas raiders Suzuka Devious (King Kamehameha), Dream Castle (Frankel) and Danceteria (Redoute's Choice) are making their Australian debuts.
The Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes will be run as Race 7 on Saturday with a start time of 3:50pm (5:50pm NZT) preview the field below and view the leaderboardhere.
NZB Release