The final Group 1 of three scheduled for a bumper Caulfield meeting this Saturday, will be a fantastic edition of the Oakleigh Plate. A full field of seventeen will scorch over the 1100m with current favourite Lankan Rupee at $3.00. Trained by Mick Price, it will be the second time in as many weeks that Price will saddle up the favourite in a Group 1 race. Last week he sent Samaready out in the Lightning Stakes who ran third to Snitzerland, the horse that Lankan Rupee ousted in a Listed race during the spring carnival. Only Knoydart and Shaml Wind are at single figure prices meaning there’s plenty of value to be had in race that has thrown up plenty of rough results in the recent times.
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1. BEL SPRINTER – M Rodd (10)
The Jason Warren trained galloper raced below his best in three starts during the spring, the best of them being his sixth (1.1 lengths) to Buffering in the G1 Manikato Stakes. He is first up here off a twelve week break and has had two barrier trials in the past three weeks, winning the most recent in good style. He has an impeccable fresh record, won five from six first up, which includes a phenomenal 3 ¼ length win over Snitzerland in the G1 The Galaxy last autumn. He ran an unlucky sixth in this race (carried 54kgs) in 2012 to Woorim. At his best, would make the $13.00 a very good price.
Odds: $15.00
2. SPIRIT OF BOOM – D Browne (12)
First up off a twelve week spell, just has he was when he contested this race last year and produced a fantastic effort to finish third to Mrs. Onassis. Got a lovely run from a good draw last year and only as ½ a kilo extra to carry here. The 6yo stallion’s form throughout the spring was rock solid and included a win in the G2 Caulfield Stakes plus close up seconds in the G2 Gilgai and Yellowglen Stakes. Won one and placed six from nine first up runs and if he get a tag into the race from his gate, will be finishing hard.
Odds: $17.00
3. LANKAN RUPEE – C Newitt (8)
The Mick Price trained galloper made it three wins straight with a comprehensive victory in the G2 Rubiton Stakes last fortnight. He lead all the way in the 1100m race and was strong through the line in recording a 3 ¾ length win over Iconic and First Command. The son of Redoute’s Choice will shoot straight to the front here and in his current form, prove hard to run down.
Odds: $3.00
4. GENERAL TRUCE – A Mallyon
A rising 7yo by Brief Truce, he recorded his ninth career win with a strong victory under 59kgs in the Listed Kensington Stakes when first up from a thirteen week spell. He has since backed that up with another excellent effort, this time when lugging 60kgs, in the Listed W.J. Adams Stakes. From an inside draw he uncharacteristically took up a forward position and was only caught on the line by the fast finishing Shamal Wind who carried 56kgs. In really good form at the moment and worth a shot at a Group 1 but in five previous attempts at this level, has been well accounted for on each occasion
Odds: $51.00
5. FIRST COMMAND – D Browne (13) 54.5kgs
The Anthony Freedman trained gelding lined up in the Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) in mid-January off an eleven month spell. Under 60kgs, it was no surprise to see him in need of the run and struggle the last bit, finishing seventh of nine and 4.5 lengths from winner, General Truce. He took great benefit from that run and next start, chased Lankan Rupee valiantly in the G2 Rubiton Stakes where he finished third (4 lengths). He’ll be fitter again but has contested this race twice in the past with better lead up form and finished fourth (2012) and last (2011).
Odds: $67.00
6. RICHIE’S VIBE – J Hill (9) 54kgs
Burst through the field late to grab Moment Of Change right on the line in the G2 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley two starts ago. He then got a long way back in the Hareeba Stakes at Mornington, on a day where it was hard to make ground, and finished mid-field, just over eight lengths from winner Knoydart. Will appreciate the drop to 54kgs after carrying 58kg and 60kg in the above races and as displayed in the Australia Stakes, with the right run, can produce a strong finish.
Odds: $34.00
7. DYSTOPIA – G Boss (3) 53.5kgs
Chris Waller’s 7yo mare will line up here first up off a twelve week spell. She finished fourth in the G1 The Galaxy behind Bel Sprinter and got too far back in the G3 Sheraco Stakes (eighth, 3.8 lengths) in her last two fresh runs. She won’t get too far back here though as Boss will be keen to use his gate and the 53.5kgs she has been assigned. This is only her second attempt at the elite level but rest assured stable will have her cherry ripe for this first up and she’s been kept relatively safe in betting.
Odds: $13.00
8. HAPPY GALAXY – S Baster (1) 53kgs
The Nadeem stallion showed a lot of ability as a younger horse, winning five of his first eight starts including the G2 Expressway Stakes last year. He has had only the one start since that win almost a year ago, where he finished sixth of nine as the 11/4 favourite in the Listed Sir John Monash Stakes. Big ask to resume in a race of this quality and happy to see what he can produce after basically a year off.
Odds: $51.00
9. KNOYDART – J McDonald (5) 53kgs
Made it three from three this preparation with a very smart win in the Listed Hareeba Stakes at Mornington a week and a half ago where from the tail of the field, he rounded up his opposition in impressive style, winning by 3 ¼ lengths. That followed a win in the Canterbury Listed Classic where he accounted for accomplished sprinter Howmuchdoyouloveme by a length. Improved sharply at each run this preparation and from gate five will get his chance to continue his upward spiral.
Odds: $6.00
10. VATICA – W Egan (14) 53kgs
The God’s Own gelding produced a great effort to win the Listed Doveton Stakes (1000m) with 60kgs back in December. A few weeks let-up after the victory saw him return in the Listed W. J. Adam Stakes where from a wide gate, he settled mid-field and on a day when not many did, he made good ground late to finish fourth (3 lengths) behind Shamal Wind and General Truce. Going well but his draw not a favourable one and from out there, will find a few too good.
Odds: $67.00
11. SHAMAL WIND – R Maloney (2) 52.5kgs
The 4yo mare kept her perfect fresh record intact with a sensational win in the A. J. Adams Stakes (1000m) three weeks ago. From what appeared to be a hopeless position on the turn, the daughter of Dubawi found her through the field and into the clear with enough time to produce a strong finish and claim General Truce right on the line. She can produce a big finish with the right run which just may come with a touch of luck from gate two.
Odds: $7.50
12. FLAMBERGE – V Duric (18) 52kgs
Honest sprinter from Peter Moody’s yard who claimed his first Stakes and fifth win of his career with a strong victory in the G3 Standish Handicap on New Year’s Day. The son of Exceed And Excel sat on the speed and was simply too strong in the run to the line, winning by 2 ¼ lengths with Essay Raider second. He hasn’t had a run since then, jumps from a poor gate and up considerably in class.
Odds: $26.00
13. KARACATIS – D Lane (4) 52kgs
Adelaide galloper who took up the running in the Listed Christmas Stakes on Boxing Day and held off all challengers in the run home to score a nose win over Richie’s Vibe and Kneeling. Richie’s Vibe has subsequently run well, claiming a G2 race but we haven’t seen this 5yo gelding by Hussonet since. He’ll take up a forward position, has only 52kgs and did run fourth (1 length) to Platelet in the G1 Goodwood Handicap last year.
Odds: $26.00
14. MAGNUS REIGN – P Maloney (17)
He’ll find this much harder than the restricted races he has been contested in recent months. The 4yo who comes for the Rick Hore-Lacy’s yard, last race two weeks ago at a Friday night Moonee Valley meeting where he finished second of nine (1 lengths) to On Strike in a RST 84 over 955m. That was his first run for several weeks and he did have to carry 59kgs but even allowing for the extra fitness and significant weight relief, he’ll struggle this grade form a wide gate.
Odds: $151.00
15. KUROSHIO – D Holland (15)
Very quick 3yo colt from the Darley operation whose best win to date came with an all the way win in the G2 Mitty’s McEwan Stakes (1000m) where he defeated Moment Of Change and General Truce by 1 ¾ lengths. He followed that up by running third as the 11/8 favourite behind Unpretentious and Pago Rock in the G2 Schillaci Stakes. With nothing on his back, he’ll shoot forward and will, as he did in the McEwan, sprint the whole way. The final 100m at this level will be his test.
Odds: $34.00
16. GREGERS – C Williams (11)
A smart filly from David Hayes’ yard who has won four of her eight starts including the G2 1000 Guineas (1400m). She resumes here off a seventeen week spell and picks a tough event to do so in. The daughter of Commands will be taking on a older horses for the first time and given that her best seems to come when over further ground than this, should be safe to risk her here.
Odds: $15.00
17. ICONIC – C Schofield (19)
Tony McEvoy’s 3yo filly started odds-on when resuming in a BM 84 (1000m) at Caulfield on the 25th January. From the outside gate in a field of nine, she settled at the tail of the field and over the sprint distance with 58kgs, wasn’t able to pick up the leaders, finishing fifth (1.4 lengths) to Borsay. Her only start since came in the G2 Rubiton Stakes where she again made good ground late along the fence, finishing second (3 ¾ lengths) to Lankan Rupee. Only horse to make ground on the winner last start but the horror draw here will see her again, too far back.
Odds: $17.00
18. MINAJ – D Yendall (7) 50kgs
Made it three wins from her last four starts with a commanding 5 ½ length win in a RST 90 race at Moonee Valley three weeks ago. Led all the way there with 53kgs to win a slick time but taking several steps up here in grade. The Anthony Freedman trained runner might be able to stick with them on the pace for the first half, but the final furlong will be a testing one.
Odds: $17.00
19. BRILLIANT BISC – (6) 50kgs – 1st EM
The Elvstroem filly was ok first up off a ten month break in the W.J. Adams Stakes (1000m) when third behind Shamal Wind and General Truce. She sat on the speed there but not surprisingly, found the last half a furlong too much after such a lengthy break. Last week she contested the G1 Lightning Stakes where she made her own way up the Flemington straight from a wide gate but was no match for the quality opposition late and ran seventh (4.7 lengths). Big ask, should she get a run, to back up a week later in another tough Group 1 sprint.
Odds: $81.00
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RACE OVERVIEW
Kuroshio, Lankan Rupee two most likely to find the front. Lankan Rupee finished last prep well and appears to have returned in even better form. He’ll be hard to run down but in a race of this quality, the $3.00 would be the shortest price you’d like to take. The way in which Knoydart won the Hareeba, caught both Jock and Trainer by surprise and the fact that they’re lining up here, suggests he’s still on the improve. Should get a sweet run behind the speed and has finished strongly at his last two. Outside of these two, there is some good value to be had about horses that have proven themselves at this level in the past. Spirit Of Boom has a good first up record, has placed twice in his two starts at this track – a G2 win and a third in this race last year – and for a horse of his racing pattern, drawn well in 12. He creates plenty of interest at $17.00. Similarly, General Truce has never gone better and the drop of five kilos on his last start, sees him meet Shamal Wind ($8.00 chance) 1.5kgs better after a narrow defeat last time. Bel Sprinter ($15.00) is un-beaten Group 1 winner first up and looked good in his recent trial win. Again, his price seems a little hard to pass up or in the least, include in some exotics with the favourite.
- LANKAN RUPEE
- SPIRIT OF BOOM
- KNOYDART
- BEL ESPRIT
