We explore entries for two of the biggest 2023 Spring Carnival races

Two of the big Spring Carnival Group 1s have had the nominations released, and they look like sensational races in prospect.

The last two Saturdays in October host two of the great races run anywhere in the world. The Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate are institutions in horse racing, and the 2023 renewals are shaping up to be as exciting and classy as they have been in the past.

It is always an exciting day when the nominations for two of the biggest contests at the Spring Carnival are released. The Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate nominations have been made, and we have had a first look over them to see who the horse racing bookmakers could be fearing come the end of October.  

Caulfield Cup

October 21 is the date of the Caulfield Cup this year. There were 175 nominations made, including 24 from overseas. The market looks wide open, but it was one of the raiders who was backed early in the betting.

Home Team

Gold Trip ran second in this last year before his Melbourne Cup win. His likely impost in the Melbourne Cup this spring will be tough to defy, but this should be a slightly more straightforward (and winnable) target for him to look at.  

Said to have benefitted from an autumn break, Francesco Guardi looks a likely type for this race. He has not seen race action since making a mockery of his opponents in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup on Cox Plate day last year. His return to the track is highly anticipated.

Raiders

Japan won the Caulfield Cup in 2014 with Admire Rakti and in 2019 with Mer De Glace. Breakup could be the Japanese runner in 2023 for trainer Tatsuya Yoshika. 4th in the Tenno Sho over 3200m in April, he is more of a Melbourne Cup prospect but is expected to contend here first.

West Wind Blows is the one who saw the early money, $26 into $11. Runner-up in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, he was a little disappointing, dropping back from 2400m to 2000m when last in action. The return to further at Caulfield would be a big help to him.

Cox Plate

The Cox Plate is run a week late on October 28. One hundred seventy-eight entries have been received, including 17 from overseas. Looking at the horse racing betting online to find the early prices, this looks like a race set to be hugely competitive.

Home Team

Chris Waller won this four years straight with the incomparable Winx - his best chance in 2023 looks to be Kovalica. The winner of six of his nine career starts, including the Queensland Derby, his star is still on the rise, looking capable of better performances to come.

Waller may also saddle Princess Grace. Grade 1 placed when trained by Michael Stidham in America, she landed the Group 3 Hawkesbury Crown on her second start for Waller in April, and we all know what Waller can do with a mare in this race! 

Raiders

The most interesting has to be the Hong Kong runner Romantic Warrior for trainer Danny Shum. The triple Group 1 winner will be a fascinating runner if he leaves Hong Kong for the first time in his career.

Paddington has emerged from nowhere in Europe to make up into one of their smartest three-year-old colts. He only won a handicap at Naas to begin his season but has since won four Group 1 races. Aidan O’Brien won this in 2014 with Adelaide and his son Joseph in 2021 with State Of Rest. 

The most exciting time of the year is on the horizon now, with the Spring Carnival fast approaching. The overseas nominations for the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate look strong for the 2023 editions, so the home team must fight hard to hold them. We cannot wait!