Victorian racing returns to Caulfield this Saturday where we will see a nine race card, headlined by the Easter Cup (2000m). The weather is fine, the track is good (4) and the rail is out six metres for the entire circuit.
Race 1. (12:50) Catanach's Jewellers Handicap 1100m
2 Sanglier (Bet Now: $4.20) is a talented looking colt for the Godolphin camp who comes to Melbourne after breaking the maiden status in good style three weeks back at Wyong when winning narrowly but impressively after being challenged strongly in the straight. Trialled up brilliantly on Monday at Randwick and he looks ready to go.
3 Sunset Watch (Bet Now: $2.80) is a Team Hawkes trained colt who had excuses on debut at Caulfield in the Chairmans behind Ennis Hill before going to a Ballarat maiden and leading all the way to win impressively and running really good time relative to the day, always a big tick for a two year old. Should run well here.
5 Juthoor (Bet Now: $6.00) is a son of I Am Invincible on debut for the Hayes/Dabernig team. This bloke wasn’t asked to do much in a recent Tatura trial on March when running fourth, beaten a couple of lengths, but he looked to go about his business quite nicely. Stable/jock combo are going well and this isn’t a strong race.
Race 2. (13:25) Noel Rundle Handicap 1100m
Looks a lovely race for 3 Crystal Fountain (Bet Now: $3.60). Quality mare that resumes for the Anthony Freedman camp after a mixed Spring prep where she ran well in a couple of races in Melbourne before heading to Perth and running just fairly in a mares race. Been given a good break and has trialled up nicely for her resumption. Should park off a hot speed and have last say.
7 Scuzi (Bet Now: $7.50) gets the right shape race wise here to run well. She has won her past three outings, the latest coming at the Valley over the 1000m when coming with a brilliant finishing burst under Brad Rawiller. Gets in really well at the weights and I think if the tactics are the same as last start, she will go close for sure.
6 Selenia (Bet Now: $8.50) is another that should park off a good tempo. She resumes for Robbie Griffiths and while she lacks the class of some of these, she does have some good form behind her, with names like Snitty Kitty and Merriest in the form guide. Trials/jump outs have been good and she gets in well after the claim.
Race 3. (14:00) Bill Collins Handicap (78) 1400m
14 Catesby (Bet Now: $5.50) is an above average gelding for the Godolphin camp who is two for two this time in. Thought there was merit in his win last time out at Canterbury because he copped pressure on speed and was there to be beaten but found plenty late and clung on to beat the older horses. Confident he can measure up.
10 Chippenham (Bet Now: $5.50) isn’t the most reliable horse going around but I think he can run well. He hasn’t raced for a month since being a bit of a disappointment at Ballarat in what looked a strong race behind Call Me Handsome. He does tend to go well on the fresh side, he draws well and gets the claim for Tahlia Hope.
18 Electric Charlie (Bet Now: $15.00) was crunched in betting late when resuming on his home track on Wangaratta Cup Day and aided by a peach from Rawiller, the gelding let down powerfully to comfortably win. Can be a bit hit and miss at times, but off the trial and his first up effort, he looks a different/better horse now, so I’ll include him in the numbers.
Race 4. (14:35) Bert Bryant Handicap 1100m
7 Doves Cry (Bet Now: $9.50) is a Henry Dwyer trained daughter of Street Cry who was Winx odds pretty much when resuming against six horses at Ballarat and visually, the win was nothing flash as the margin was narrow and she had to be pushed out to get the win, but I think it’s a good tick for a lightly raced horse to beat the older horses. Think she can measure up.
2 Regimen (Bet Now: $4.20) is a James Cummings trained filly who was most unlucky when resuming in the Typhoon Tracy behind Tulip before racing down the straight at Flemington and bumping into a very impressive She’s So High. Draws to get really good cover from the barrier and she gets an in form Brad Rawiller steering.
3 Time Awaits (Bet Now: $17.00) is an interesting runner. Tony McEvoy trains this filly who had trialled up well prior to resuming down the straight at Flemington and being a total forgive for mine behind the above average Demerara. Had really good form around her last prep and from a good draw, she can bounce back.
Race 5. (15:10) Jack Elliott Handicap 2000m
3 All Hard Wood (Bet Now: $5.00) is a Richard Laming trained gelding who should be hard fit and ready for the mile assignment after racing against the older horses over 1800m at Sandown a couple of Wednesdays back. Just wants to lay in a touch and do a bit wrong which is probably what cost him in the end when nabbed by Shaq. That should leave him cherry ripe for this.
5 Aroha Te Mana (Bet Now: $23.00) is an Aaron Purcell trained three year old who has only had the two career outings but has showed promise. Led throughout to win the maiden last start at Ararat. Time was nothing flash, he didn’t beat much, but he looked to do it well enough and 2000m should be no issue.
13 Christie (Bet Now: $23.00) is a Nigel Blackiston trained filly who was well backed late when breaking the maiden status last time out at Yarra Valley, aided by an absolute peach from an in form Beau Mertens, who had the filly in a beaut spot just off the pace before getting clear air and finishing best. Gets gate one and Yendall steers so she should get a soft trip and be strong late.
Race 6. (15:50) Robert Taranto Handicap (84) 1800m
9 Chequered Flag (Bet Now: $13.00) is a high quality jumper gearing up for the Galleywood I would assume and he looks to have returned in fab order if his resumption last Tuesday at Bendigo is any guide. Loomed to burst through between runners but just ran out of condition late behind stablemate Savaheat. Up to the 1800m second up is ideal and despite being a star jumper, he’s very capable on the flat.
You’d have to think this is D-Day for 7 Portman (Bet Now: $6.00). No luck two back against the bias behind King’s Command but then backed up a week later and to my eye he was disappointing behind Soho Ruby despite having every chance it seemed. He has run well at Caulfield and perhaps rising to 1800m is what he is looking for.
11 Pow Wow (Bet Now: $8.50) is a former UK galloper who had his first run in Australia in the Soho Ruby race at Flemington two weeks ago and I thought he did a good job in defeat behind the mare given he was well short of her best distance and didn’t parade that flash. Expecting good improvement from that outing and up to 1800m a big tick.
Race 7. (16:30) Le Pine Funerals Easter Cup 2000m
I think 5 Steps (Bet Now: $6.50) is one of the more fascinating runners on the program. UK galloper making his Australian debut for Team Williams and he really brings some world class form with him. A run behind Cracksman, a win over Johannes Vermeer…gee it reads well. How forward will he be? Market and riding tactics will tell you that.
4 Odeon (Bet Now: $3.40) is a quality galloper for the Ellerton/Zahra team who is third up here so he should be near peak fitness. Wasn’t far off Humidor in the Blamey last time out but the slow tempo was just not his go. Better suited with a genuine speed and I think he will get that here. Definite chance at odds.
2 Berisha (Bet Now: $8.00) broke a long run of outs when winning the Yarra Valley Cup a couple of Sundays back. Jamie Mott gave this horse an absolute peach just off the pace in the run and once presented, he always looked in control of the race and won impressively. Was nominated for the Mornington Cup but they instead tackle the softer option.
Race 8. (17:10) Mypunter.com Victoria Handicap 1400m
I think this race is all about 9 So Si Bon (Bet Now: $16.00). Blessed with so much talent but just does so much wrong, namely wanting to bite the rival next to him. He has done it his past couple and as ordered to trial twice after doing it fresh in the Newmarket. The two trials were great to the eye and he is Group l placed at this track/distance.
8 Ken’s Dream (Bet Now: $6.00) is a bit of a query at 1400m, but the way he is going at the moment, you just have to include him. He was one of the better runs of the beaten brigade in the Newmarket behind Redkirk Warrior. Got a mile back off them but finished off his race with real purpose to run ninth, beaten three lengths. If he runs 1400m, he’ll go close.
Giving 15 Steel Frost (Bet Now: $8.50) another chance. He was confidently supported when resuming in the Matrice on Adelaide Cup Day and on face value, he was disappointing but I’m happy to give him another look because he wasn’t beaten far and they did crawl in front. He loves Caulfield and up to 1400m is a big tick.
Race 9. (17:45) Geoff Murphy Handicap (84) 1200m
8 El Sicario (Bet Now: $11.00) for me in a tricky sprint. Thought he was well placed by the stable when heading to Morphettville for Adelaide Cup Day where he found a winnable sprint race and aided by a peach from Dwayne Dunn, he proved too good. I think beyond 1000m is an ask, but with good cover and a patient ride, I think he’ll get 1200m.
10 Pick Me Up (Bet Now: $8.50) is a handy son of Encosta De Lago that resumes for the Tim Martin camp. This bloke was a drifter in betting when contesting an Evening Star race at Canterbury back in December and didn’t have the best of luck in the straight behind Invincible Quest. He does go well fresh and has tuned up with a couple of trials. I reckon he’ll be near wound up to go.
11 Written Era (Bet Now: $14.00) was kept pretty safe in betting when resuming down the straight at Flemington a fortnight back and I thought she was sound in defeat behind Quilista, who was good in a Group l prior to that and has since won at Stakes level last weekend at Rosehill, so that form reads well and she goes much better at Caulfield than what the record states.
Best Bets & Quaddie Tips
BEST BET: Race Two Number 2 Crystal Fountain
NEXT BEST: Race Seven Number 5 Steps
VALUE: Race Six Number 9 Chequered Flag
Quaddie Tips (Races Six Through To Nine):
Leg One: 7, 8, 9, 11, 12
Leg Two: 2, 4, 5, 7, 8
Leg Three: 6, 8, 9, 15
Leg Four: 8, 10, 11, 18
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