'I wouldn't swap him for anything' - Ray Dawson bullish about Caulfield Cup ride on his first trip to Melbourne

Ray Dawson will swap Ascot for Australia on Saturday when he makes his first trip to Melbourne to partner Glorious Goodwood winner Enfjaar in the Caulfield Cup.

Instead of riding on Qatar British Champions Day, Dawson will contest the 150th running of the A$6.5 million handicap at Caulfield aboard the Roger Varian-trained six-year-old.

Enfjaar won the Group 3 Glorious Stakes under Dawson on his most recent start in August, registering his first success since landing the John Smith's Cup in 2024.

"It'll be my first time in Melbourne and I'm really looking forward to it," Dawson told racing.com.

"The Caulfield Cup is such a big race and it's great to be a part of. The Melbourne Cup is one of the most famous races in the world, and the Caulfield Cup is not very far behind.

"It's a great opportunity. This is my sixth season with Roger. It's gone from strength to strength and it would be nice to combine and get a Caulfield Cup on the CV."

Enfjaar winning the Glorious Stakes at Goodwood under Ray DawsonCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Dawson, who is enjoying his best season in prize-money terms, produced a fine front-running ride on Enfjaar at Goodwood, where the son of Lope De Vega beat the William Haggas-trained pair Opportunity and Al Aasy. The latter has boosted the form with subsequent Group wins at Deauville and Ascot.

"Enfjaar turned in a career-best performance at Goodwood and the form out of the race has worked out really well," said Dawson.

"He stays the trip quite well and he likes quick ground. He'll like a fast pace; he's a horse that likes to get into a rhythm, which is what happened at Goodwood. If there's a nice gallop on, it'll play to our strengths.

"The unknown is obviously the track. When you turn into the straight, there's not a whole lot of track left before the line. That's the only question mark."

Dawson, who has won several big races in Dubai, is due to arrive in Melbourne in time to partner Enfjaar in his final piece of work on Thursday.

"The reports have been very positive about him since he arrived," the jockey added. "He's going into the race in great condition, and I wouldn't swap him for anything."

Enfjaar is a 14-1 shot, while fellow British contender Wine Dark Sea is priced at 8-1 for Harry Charlton.

Caulfield Cup (Caulfield, Saturday)William Hill: 9-2 Cosmic Crusader, 8 Wine Dark Sea, Zahrann, 10 Enfjaar, 12 Half Yours, 14 Saint George, 16 Royal Supremacy, 20 Green Spaces, 25 bar.

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