The Caulfield Cup (2400m), one of the great handicaps in world racing, highlights a fab ten race program at Caulfield this Saturday. The weather is overcast, the track is a slow (5) and the rail is out six metres for the entire circuit.
Cup Field 🏆: View the Caulfield Cup Field
Race 1. (12:15) QMS Media Plate 1400m
3 Eawase (Bet Now: $7.00 FAT ODDS) is a quality filly for the Snowden camp who can bounce back here for sure. Thought she was quite good fresh at Rosehill behind Trekking before going to the Thousand Guineas Prelude where she didn’t seem entirely happy inside horses behind Smart Melody. If she gets clear air to wind up, she’ll take beating for mine.
9 Delusions (Bet Now: $4.20 FAT ODDS) looks a lovely type for Darren Weir who was heavily backed when debuting at Swan Hill and the bets were landed with the filly absolutely bolting in and running decent time relative to the meeting. These Weir youngsters generally measure up when they come to town from the provincials, so she gets respect from me.
8 Zargos (Bet Now: $15.00 FAT ODDS) is a Hayes/Dabernig trained filly who really caught the eye winning on debut. We have an interest in the horse who she beat that we have a good opinion of suggesting she could be a pretty smart filly. May wan’t a little further than the 1400m but at the odds she looks a great each way bet.
Race 2. (12:50) Polytrack Gothic Stakes 1400m
4 Ranier (Bet Now: $3.10 FAT ODDS) surely. He should have won a fortnight back at Flemington. Stevie Wonder texted me and said even he could see how unlucky Ranier was. The blinkers have seemed to really do the trick with him. He was a horse who could get keen in his races but he seemed to relax beautifully at Flemington. Remaining at 1400m the only niggle.
1 Wild Planet (Bet Now: $12.00 FAT ODDS) is a very progressive galloper for Team Hawkes who is 2/2 this time in. Loved the way he let down to win first up in a Ballarat maiden before going to the race mentioned above where he was wide throughout and though Ranier should have won, Wild Planet did the work so you can’t begrudge him the win. He’ll take some beating here third up.
10 Zoutori (Bet Now: $26.00 FAT ODDS) is a son of Zoustar for the Ellerton/Zahra team who took a little while to break the maiden tag but it came last start at Kyneton where he found plenty and surged under an in form Andrew Mallyon to get the win. He’s promised a fair bit and now he has that winning feeling, he can go on with it.
Race 3. (13:25) Caulfield Sprint 1000m
6 Eduardo… (Bet Now: $3.90 FAT ODDS) I just can’t believe how good he is. In terms of ratings, he should have no right to be favourite here but the way he’s racing, he’s a deserved favourite. Brilliant fight to go down narrowly here fresh behind Spending To Win before going to the Gilgai where he loomed large but was nabbed on the peg by I Am Excited. He’ll be on speed and giving a great sight as always.
3 Bons Away (Bet Now: $6.00 FAT ODDS) is a Maher/Eustace trained sprinter who should just about be ready to produce his best. He ran in the Gilgai where he tracked the speed and when he peeled to the outside, he looked the winner. Just hit a little flat spot when initially asked but was strong late when third to I Am Excited. He’ll park off a hot tempo and have last say.
8 Miss Leonidas (Bet Now: $7.00 FAT ODDS) is a talented and speedy mare for Shaun Dwyer who looks suited back to 1000m. Resumed against the mares over 1100m here where she was on speed throughout and looked to travel well but couldn’t quite finish it off behind Grey Shadow. Back to 1000m, with the run under the belt, she’ll be hard to beat.
Race 4. (14:00) Alinghi Stakes 1100m
Safe option looks to be 8 From Within (Bet Now: $4.25 FAT ODDS) . Toby Edmonds has this mare flying and it’s hard not seeing her continuing the picket fence. Has won her past three, the latest coming four weeks back at the Sunny Coast over 1000m where she led all the way and won as she pleased. More depth here, but she’s got brilliant sustained speed.
5 Soothing (Bet Now: $5.50 FAT ODDS) is a James Cummings trained mare who ran over this track/distance last time and to the eye, she was disappointing but the tempo wasn’t overly hot and she was back/wide, so for mine it was a forgive. She’s got the brilliance to beat these for sure. Just needs things to fall into place for her.
1 Jorda (Bet Now: $12.00 FAT ODDS) is a James Cummings trained daughter of Exceed And Excel who comes through the Grey Shadow race on September 30 where she got back off the pace and the tempo just wasn’t hot enough for her but she was an eye catcher late and clocked some decent enough late splits. Just needs a more genuine tempo here and she’ll take beating.
Race 5. (14:35) Ethereal Stakes 2000m
If she gets around Caulfield, 6 Verry Elleegant (Bet Now: $2.35) should be winning. It was hard to miss her Australian debut in the Edward Manifold, getting badly held up when appearing to be bolting but eventually got clear and savaged the line late in a race won by Amphitrite, who backed up to win the Thousand Guineas, so that’s the A1 form for this.
2 Greysful Glamour (Bet Now: $3.80) is a Mark Newnham trained filly who is on her way to the Oaks and will use this as a tune up. She got her ticket into the Oaks by winning the Prelude at Flemington, sitting on speed and dashing right away, but to be fair, they did get cheap fractions mid race and it turned into a dash. Not sure that’ll happen here, but have to respect her.
10 Pressure (Bet Now: $12.00) is a Matt Cumani trained filly who comes through the Oaks Prelude at Flemington where the sit/sprint scenario didn’t really help her cause but I thought she was far from disgraced in defeat behind Greysful Glamour. Doubt she turns the tables, but the trip should be okay and stable can produce a decent stayer.
Race 6. (15:10) Caulfield Classic 2000m
I’m really keen on 1 Thinkin’ Big (Bet Now: $3.70). I’m against him somewhat as a Derby horse but I think he’s so well placed here. He was a beaten fav last time out in the Spring Champion but he did do plenty of work in the run early on and the wet track wasn’t his go. Much better suited on top of the ground, he’ll be on speed and the WaterBott team is just starting to warm up.
3 Extra Brut…(Bet Now: $2.25) he doesn’t look a Derby horse but there is just something about him. Huge win over the mile here two back before going to the UCI where he did work from the wide gate but you just had to love the way he knuckled down to get the job done. These Weir horses, generally when they win, they keep on winning.
12 Chapada (Bet Now: $9.00) looks a progressive type for the Michael Moroney team who comes here off the back of just a maiden win, but the win at Wangaratta was outstanding. Won by five and did it without really being extended by Patty. Harder here, but should have no issue with 2000m and could add value to exotics.
Race 7. (15:50) Coongy Cup 2000m
7 Best Of Days (Bet Now: $2.45) looks hard to beat for mine. James Cummings trains this import, who comes here off the back of a close up second over 1700m here where he loomed large to beat Furrion, but that high quality Weir horse just proved too good. I reckon up to 2000m will suit him ideally and he does have a decent turn of foot.
1 Tally (Bet Now: $14.00) might be looking for a touch further but I reckon he’s racing well. He comes through the Turnbull where he was out the back and no hope given the way the race was run, and of course Winx in the field, but his late splits weren’t too bad under the circumstances. More genuine tempo here and he’ll be more effective.
Up to 2000m should suit the Hayes/Dabernig mare 8 Samovare (Bet Now: $18.00). She ran over the mile last time in the Stocks Stakes at the Valley where the tempo was clearly against her but she toughed it out quite well in defeat I thought behind I Am A Star. Lone run at 2000m was at this track/distance last year in the Naturalism. Looks to have come back in good order and is a definite chance.
Race 8. (16:40) Caulfield Cup 2400m
I think more often than not you can’t go wrong trusting the Turnbull form heading into the Caulfield Cup so I’ll go with 18 Youngstar (Bet Now: $6.00). 13 winners of the last 30 editions of the Caulfield Cup have come through the Turnbull and of course that was won by Winx, but I thought the run of Youngstar was an absolute beauty in second. If she handles Caulfield, she’ll take a power of beating and up to 2400m is only a further tick.
14 Kings Will Dream (Bet Now: $5.00) has been the favourite for a while now but some people are a tad turned off by him. Interesting to see because it’s been a near faultless prep. His Turnbull run was full of merit, but the negative I will say is that he was held by Youngstar and that mare was getting away. At the weights/upside, can’t see him turning the tables, but have to respect the stable.
I think had 1 Best Solution (Bet Now: $14.00) not gone to Germany for the two majors, he’d be top pick given he wouldn’t have been penalised for those wins. Has to lump the 57.5kg, which won’t be an easy task, but his 2018 form has been outstanding, highlighted of course by his two Group l wins in Germany. A hard 2400m will be no issue for him and he obviously has class/quality.
Race 9. (17:15) Tristarc Stakes 1400m
4 Invincible Gem (Bet Now: $6.50) on top. Kris Lees has this mare and I thought she was outstanding when resuming in the Premiere, the main lead up for the Everest and she ran 32.8 for her final 600m, the third quickest of the day, which speaks volumes of how well she’s come back. Extra trip, back to her own sex, J Mac on…she’s very likeable.
3 Invincibella (Bet Now: $3.70) is a ripping mare for Chris Waller and you could make a case she should be unbeaten this prep with two wins and a luckless Golden Pendant run in between. It was a peach from Bowman that got her home in the Blazer and she won with authority, visually. Has to be respected once again.
7 Shumookh (Bet Now: $6.50) should be out of trouble, on speed for the WaterBott team. She was a tough on speed winner of the Golden Pendant before going to the Angst at Randwick where she looked to race a touch keen in front and didn’t have anything left for the finale, a race won by I Am Serious. On speed, she’ll give a sight I’m sure.
Race 10. (17:50) Moonga Stakes 1400m
Want to give 6 Dreamforce (Bet Now: $4.60) another chance. There were a few who were quite keen on him when he resumed down the straight at Flemington in the Gilgai but for mine he didn’t appear 100% on the course so I’m prepared to forgive him behind I Am Excited. Trials/jump out prior were too good to ignore off one run. Up to 1400m on a bending track looks ideal.
5 Peaceful State (Bet Now: $4.40) could be a big improver. He hasns’t raced since the Sir Rupert Clarke where he was back and wide, and really didn’t come into the race at all behind Jungle Cat, and that form was franked with Land Of Plenty winning the Toorak. He’s a bit of an enigma this horse but at his best he’s up to these.
8 Mr Sneaky (Bet Now: $5.50) won’t be at big odds but looks the only other runner to test the on top two in a pretty thin race. Probably could have taken his place in the Toorak but a strong mile isn’t his go so I like him here at 1400m to bounce back. He was good late in the Sir Rupert Clarke behind Jungle Cat without threatening. Hasn’t won in a little while the only negative with him.
Best Bets & Quaddie Tips
BEST BET: Race Six Number 1 Thinkin’ Big
NEXT BEST: Race Two Number 4 Ranier
LONG SHOT: Race One Number 3 Eawase
Quaddie Tips (Races Seven Through To Ten):
Leg One: 1, 3, 7, 8
Leg Two: 1, 2, 14, 15, 18
Leg Three: 3, 4, 7, 13
Leg Four: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
$50 Investment= 12.50% of the dividend if successful
Bookmaker | Why Bet | Sign Up | Full Review |
---|---|---|---|
Back Yourself with Ladbrokes! | Join | Review | |
Back a Winner with Neds! | Join | Review | |
Sign up to Unibet and start betting in minutes! | Join | Review | |
Sign up to swiftbet and start betting in minutes! | Join | Review | |
Sign up to Unibet and start betting in minutes! | Join | Review |