Caulfield Racing Tips
Track: Good 4 Rail: Out 6m entire circuit
Best Bet: Race 5 – CALL ME HANDSOME
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Race 1: Handicap 2400m
JAAMEH (3) has been brilliant winning two of three since arriving on our shores. He does come back a little in rip off his last start win at Flemington which is a little concerning, but he has been charging through the line from a mile back. Look for him late.
Dangers:
RED ALTO (6) looks the obvious danger. A little hard to line-up his Sydney form here but he has been so consistent of late. He will be closer than the favourite in the run, just a little worrying running the reverse direction again. He does get the blinkers on again. Those two will dominate the betting, throw in ZILBIYR (8) who ran on ok in an easier race last start and MASTER ZEPHYR (5).
Race 2: BM78 Handicap 1200m
LADY OF FLANDERS (16) has not missed a place in her 6 career starts, she has won 2/2 since resuming this prep and hasn’t had it all her own way. She will find this tougher back against the boys after the last couple were against her own sex, she looks to have plenty of upside and has versatility where she can map.
Dangers:
Most of them. If GREY SHADOW (18) gets a run he comes right into the mix and also has a lot of upside. HOLBEIN (10) should get the right run fresh off the inside gate, he was beaten on his merits in the Bendigo Guineas before going to the paddock but has trialed well and has a good fresh record from limited stats. BRYAN (6) will be giving them a start but is in super form going for three in a row. Look for him late
Race 3: Mares Handicap 1400m
No shock that the mares race is the hardest of the day from a punting perspective. SAMOVARE (1) is the class runner, she has placed three from four on the track and has a similar record when racing fresh. She is so consistent and looks a great each-way bet if she can get cover early.
Dangers:
MRS GARDENIA (2) is also resuming but can sprint well fresh, she is likely to be giving them a start but look for her late. ISTRIA (6) comes down from NSW, she was a little plain second-up, she was held-up but didn’t really accelerate well enough once clear. She is sure to be fitter for that and is a winner third-up previously. SPANNER HEAD (4) was a brilliant winner at Flemington over this trip last time, she was perfectly ridden in behind the leaders and should get that same map again here. A little concerning that she has not placed at the track before though.
Race 4: Handicap 1400m
NIGHT’S WATCH (9) stamped himself as a future star last campaign and he didn’t disappoint when resuming. He got well back before saving ground along the rails and ran on hard. The form out of that race has held up and the only time he has been here to Caulfield he charged late to get up in a race where the pattern didn’t suit.
Dangers:
RADIPOLE (6) has the wide draw to contend with but he will offset that by rolling forward and if he can get to the rails first, will look the winner for a long way. POETIC DREAM (4) was only fair resuming after taking on some of the best sprinters in the land. The blinkers go off for him here for the first time. STREETS OF AVALON (15) is a dual acceptor and must be considered if he comes here.
Race 5: Heatherlie Stakes Handicap 1700m
CALL ME HANDSOME (8) has the advantage of race fitness on his side here against plenty of opposition that are either first-up or early on in campaigns aiming for bigger things. He missed a placing for the first time in his 14-start career last time when he had a torrid run on the pace facing the breeze but very wide. He didn’t shirk the task and maps well up on the speed.
Dangers:
MISS ADMIRATION (12) is an interesting runner that is still yet to win out of maiden grade, that win was second-up as she is here. She wasn’t far off when placing in a couple of Oaks races last season, she may want further but she was super fresh. SHOREHAM (6) comes through that same race and was ok through the line and should be fully fit here third-up. HOMESMAN (3) may need the run but his two starts in Oz have been super. He will improve on whatever he does here and looks set for a big Spring.
Race 6: H.D.F McNeil Stakes 3YO 1200m
AYLEMERTON (2) is already a Group 2 winner of the Todman in the Autumn, he wasn’t beaten far in the Slipper before going to the paddock. With the Hayes/Dabernig yard, he wouldn’t have lost anything in his time off and is a winner his only other fresh run on debut.
Dangers:
TONY NICCONI (4) is undefeated at two starts, his last start win here was quite soft albeit a small margin when sitting up on the speed. Expect a similar ride here. The Champagne winner SEABROOK (6) is resuming, she may find the 6 furlongs too short, but she will run through the line hard and be better for the run no doubt. BONDI (7) was runner-up to her in the Champagne and is also resuming, but he did have every chance in that. He was given a good hit-out at the trials in preparation for this.
Race 7: Memsie Stakes WFA 1400m
VEGA MAGIC (3) bounced back to his best when resuming, he absolutely killed them here in the Bletchingly when leading throughout. He has a phenomenal record second-up, the runner-up out of that has since won and has been kept fresh with 5 weeks between runs. He just wins again, especially if the on pacers are dominating.
Dangers:
HAPPY CLAPPER (1) is a real gem, any horse that can run Winx to a length is obviously the real deal. Resuming here today, he has an ok record fresh but just worried that he might get out of his ground early. A real star. KINGS WILL DREAM (7) is a star stayer in the making, he will probably find this too short again, but it was impossible to miss him when resuming flashing home out wide. KEMENTARI (8) is obviously well above average but just need to see him stand up to the hype and win a big one in open class. Happy to lay him all day shorter than each-way odds. How he started a similar price to this against Winx last time out is amazing.
Race 8: Moniek and Susanne Sambor Heath 1100m
The most interesting runner of the day is KEMONO (12). The former Japanese trained horse is now with the Weir camp, he has not won since early in his career, but he was racing the best they had to offer over there before travelling abroad. We all know what class the Japanese runners have, coupled with the ability of D K Weir to improve an already established star, this guy could be anything. Huge watch on what he does today.
Dangers:
VOODOO LAD (3) is a star no doubt, he is a two-time Group Three winner this time in including three back here, the only loss came behind the impressive Vega Magic who is racing earlier in the card. He will probably be giving them a start but look for him over the top late, possibly between runners from that draw. BRAVE SMASH (2) is another former Japanese horse that has already made an impact here, he is resuming but has not won in 6 previous attempts fresh. Goodwood and last start Stradbroke winner SANTA ANA LANE (1) is also resuming, he was flying before going to the paddock but may struggle under the big weight fresh.
Race 9: Cockram Stakes Mares 1400m
Followers of this column know that I am a big fan of CATCHY (1), she is resuming here off the inside gate, but she has unbelievable finishing speed. She will probably need to be ridden for luck from that draw, look for her flashing late between runners.
Dangers:
I AM EXCITED (5) went to a new level and through the grades nicely last prep, she is resuming and won fresh last campaign. Likely to get back as well, if she gets the right cart into it she will be steaming home late out wide. JAMAICAN RAIN (6) won all three starts last campaign and will be up on the speed, she has won all three when resuming. CREATIVITY (9) was good resuming after working early to get up on the speed and has a good record second-up.