John Sadler has chances in two Listed races at Caulfield
After a last-start second in the Group Three Victoria Handicap, Charmed Harmony is favourite to break through for his first win in a year at Caulfield.
Charmed Harmony is at $3.60 with Luxbet for Saturday’s Listed Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1440m), a year after winning a 1400m open handicap on the corresponding weekend at Caulfield, his most recent win.
The seven-year-old was gallant in defeat behind Hooked in the Victoria Handicap last start, the same race in which he finished second to Black Heart Bart in 2016 before winning his next start five weeks later.
This time there has been two weeks between races and Sadler has been delighted with how the gelding has come through his most recent outing.
“He’s trained on really well,” Sadler said.
“I’m just as happy with him going into this race as I was going into the Victoria Handicap.
“He’ll give it a shake, for sure.”
Sadler said all Charmed Harmony needed to perform to his best was some give in the surface, something he is set to get on Saturday with the track rated a heavy (8) on Thursday.
“Even though that track was called a Good Three last start, there was give in it and that’s all he needs,” Sadler said.
“It doesn’t have to be heavy or even slow, just as long as there’s some give.”
Sadler acknowledged Charmed Harmony was back up in the weights with 59kg having carried 56kg last start.
“He’s back up giving horses plenty of weight but he just loves that Caulfield 1400,” he said.
Although pleased with Charmed Harmony, Sadler has labelled two-year-old Seized his best chance on the program in the Listed Thoroughbred Club Cup (1200m), believing last Saturday’s VOBIS Sires runner-up is a colt on the rise.
“He’s my best chance on Saturday. He flew through that run,” Sadler said.
“He’s a good colt. I know there’s a couple of decent horses in it but he’s a pretty decent horse and I think he’ll certainly be better as a three-year-old too.”
Seized is at $7 with impressive debut winner Doubt I’m Dreaming the odds-on favourite.
