Jameka ridden by Nicholas Hall has won the 2016 Caulfield Cup, the traditional lead-up race to the Melbourne Cup. Jameka was trained by Ciaron Maher who also trained Pemberley in the race. The Jameka team will take home $1.75 million of the $3 million total prize money for the race.
The four-year-old mare was the favourite to win at odds of $4.00 at the TAB. Jameka had a perfect run just forward of midfield in the race, and hooked out three-wide on the turn to make its run. It hit the front 200 metres from the winning post and pulled clear to win by a margin of three lengths. The horse is now second favourite for the Melbourne Cup at odds of $6.50.
It was Nick Hall's second Caulfield Cup win -- he won this race in 2013 on Fawkner -- and is the son of jockey Greg Hall who rode Melbourne Cup winner Subzero in 1992.
The jockey is confident Jameka can take out the Melbourne Cup.
"Yeah, I think she can win it for sure... so I can't wait to ride her then," Nick said to Channel Seven.
Trainer Ciaron Maher was elated after the race. "I think she's just an extraordinary horse and I think she's proved that today," he said.
Scottish finished second in the Caulfield Cup and Exospheric rattled home for third in an eye-catching Melbourne Cup trial.