NIGHT’S Watch is bound for the Caulfield Cup after Naturalism Stakes victory guaranteed a berth in the $5 million Group 1 handicap — but it might not be this season.

Sounding a note of caution after the talented Kiwi coursed widest and charged down the outside rail to overcome quality opposition, trainer Darren Weir hinted Night’s Watch best might still be a year away.

“I reckon we’ll go to the Caulfield Stakes (October 13) and I love backing horses up,” Weir said.

“It’ll be three weeks to the Caulfield Stakes and then, if he runs well in the Caulfield Stakes, we can back up into the Caulfield Cup (October 20).

“But if it’s (the Cup) not this year, it might be next year.

“That’s the beauty about OTI, there’s no pressure. Such a good people.

“If he runs well in the Caulfield Stakes, it’ll be hard not to run him I would’ve thought.”

Night’s Watch firmed to TAB $8 second favouritism behind stablemate Kings Will Dream ($4.50) for the Caulfield Cup.

The lightly raced stayer ($2.70) posted his eighth win from 17 starts, narrowly denying Rising Red ($16) and Odeon ($9), whose rider Damien Thorton said the gelding had been unlucky.

Damian Lane’s icy ride presented Weir with his first Naturalism triumph.

“It was a bit breathtaking there late but he got the bob,” Weir said.

“He’s starting to get better this horse, he’s a bit of a work in progress, he hasn’t been easy.

“He’s starting to show the potential of his early days, but his manners are getting better.

“It was a terrific run. It’s good that he’s won a nice race because he’s deserved it.”

Lane described the roguish Night’s Watch — who again missed the start — as a winning machine.

“He’s a really good horse. He missed the start again today, which is something we’re gonna have work on,” Lane said.

“Just pressed the button a bit early and he got lost a bit around the home corner. He was on the outside fence by himself but good horses find a way to win.

“The stable has done such a terrific job with him because he was such a handful when he came into Forest Lodge and they’ve turned him into a winning machine.”

Godolphin import Folkswood faded to last in a performance which mystified jockey James Doyle.

“That just wasn’t him,” Doyle said of last season’s Cranbourne Cup winner and Cox Plate third placegetter.

SUCCESSFUL CAULFIELD RAID COMES AT A PRICE
JAMES Doyle’s successful hit-and-run Melbourne raid to land the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes has been soured by suspension.

Doyle was outed for seven meetings for careless riding on Folkswood in the Naturalism Stakes.

He pleaded guilty and will resume at Newmarket on Saturday.

The Englishman flew into Melbourne on Saturday morning and left Saturday night after winning the Group 1 Rupert Clarke on Jungle Cat.

Stephen Baster and Jordan Childs were severely reprimanded for their rides in the Naturalism.

Brett Prebble’s return to Melbourne racing after a long stint in Hong Kong hit an early hurdle.

The Melbourne Cup-winning jockey was suspended for 20 meetings for improper riding on Cross Legend, causing interference to John Allen on Krone.

Stewards deferred the start of the suspension to allow Prebble to ride Lucky Bubbles in Japan next Sunday.

Prebble will start his ban on October 1 and return on October 19.