Mick’s Mail: Caulfield 3/05/2025

R1- We kick off proceedings with a small field with limited exposed form.

I liked the debut run of Kaleo and think he might be a progressive type; the small field should suit given his racing pattern last start.

Prestige Snitzel has improved at each run, culminating with a victory last start, she will be very competitive here.

Prestige Ole has won 2 from 3 starts and has good ability.

Kakkoli is nicely bred and could be the surprise packet.

No Bet

R2- Smart Little Miss is going great guns this time in and I think she can make it 3 from 3 this prep. The map supports a solid speed, I see her getting a cozy run midfield and being too strong late. The booking of Ethan Brown, who is riding very well, and the $4.80 appeal greatly.

The resuming Herecomesthestar is the testing material, she always races well when fresh, loves the distance and the trainer/jockey combo is lethal.

Gracies Rain and Rumours Abound will both settle on pace and be threats as long as they don’t carve each other up.

Backing #5 Smart Little Miss

R3- The best value bet on the card is Landmark. This colt was given a very average ride by young Logan Bates last start and gets a huge jockey upgrade to Blake Shinn. Whilst the run looked mediocre on paper, its last 200M was the best of the race and very encouraging. He will have energy reserves off that, Shinn will settle him back in the field and bring him with one big run down the middle of the track. The $12 is juicy.

No Fooling was a nice win at his first start, the nicely bred son of Alabama Express produced a lovely tun of foot to swamp them in the best last sectional of the night. Natural improvement will have him be ultra-competitive here.

Symphony Of Colour was good first up and will appreciate the additional 100M, the map is advantageous for her also.

Skipjack is racing in great heart and will be in the finish somewhere.

I’m prepared to risk the fave Scampi here; the draw and map won’t be to his liking, and I think I’d rather lay than back him at the $3.20 currently on offer.

Backing #8 Landmark

R4- Nostringsattached is my best bet on the program. His 3 wins back from a spell were all with good merit and then he ventured to Sydney where he just got nudged out in a decent class race. If he has taken no ill effects from the trip he will handle this lot with ease.

Sugar Coat wasn’t given the best chance upon resumption, his effort to get as close as he did was an indicator that he had come back in good style. Unfortunately, he will receive and similar sort of run here, had he drawn a better barrier I would’ve had him a lot closer in the rankings.

Kalkallo and Rue De Royale have claims, albeit minor ones in my view.

Backing #1 Nostringsattached

R5- Oak Hill presents here as another strong bet for the meeting. He’s a 1000M specialist, draws perfectly, gets Shinn to steer, and he should get a lovely cart along off a hot tempo. He’s hard fit and will be extremely tough to beat.

Twin Perfection resumes and can pull out a big run when fresh, he might just be in the best spot to shanghai down the middle as the leaders are folding up.

Sparring is racing well albeit in weaker class, he will also benefit from a cracking pace and be finishing off hard late. He is better than a 20/1 chance.

Fasuto has had a few issues over the past 10 months, his run last start suggests he might be through the worst of it, if so, he can win this.

Backing #4 Oak Hill

R6- The Blake Shinn show rolls on here with Immediacy being another standout bet for me. His dominant win at Mornington showed me that he back at his best and that my friends is good enough to beat these. There are a couple of handy types in this race although this son of Tarzino should be ready to take the next step up to better classes than this. The $3.40 that was put up early is well and truly gone, he will start closer to $1.60 I think.

With the expected scratching of Ziryab, Aramco might be the quinella horse, he will race on pace and after 4 runs back is hard fit and will run the trip right out.

Dashing Duchess has ability and can fill a place along with Glentaneous who is better than recent form suggests.

Backing #3 Immediacy

R7- A tough race here, I’ve narrowed it down to 2 main hopes, Hurry Curry and Stylish Secret. The race is not really a confident betting event for me though.

Hurry Curry is a nice filly who needs the 2000M after a couple of runs back. She gets a nice draw, weight relief from Tom Prebble’s claim and she strikes a moderate lot.

Stylish Secret is also 3^rd up and ready to peak, he hasn’t had the best of luck in his 2 runs back and with improved luck can be in the finish.

The 2 favourites in the betting The Muffin Man and Global Eclipse are winning chances, I just can’t get them as short as the market has them.

No Bet

R8- What version of Pride Of Jenni do we get here, that’s the 64-million-dollar question?

I have her on top and at her best she is a $1.30 chance and wins by 10, that said she is way off her best now. As a result, I will be staying out.

Pounding could be the one, going back 18 months, he wasn’t far away in a Group 1 Toorak, a return to that form would be good enough to win this.

Scheelite had a change of tactics when leading last start and won with ease, with POJ in the race its unlikely that he will get to the front. That could be a blessing, he might just get a nice suck along behind the great mare and steal a march on them if she can’t finish the race off.

Hellsing returned to winning form last start and should figure in the placings again.

No Bet

R9- The lucky last and I’m backing two runners to have a nice result, I have Hiyaam Proud slightly in front of Kazalark.

Hiyaam Proud finished last prep with some excellent efforts around classy opposition, he flies fresh, loves the track and the 1400M is perfect fresh.

Kazalark is lightly raced, and I particularly like Waller throwing him in a deeper race than he needs, this points to a forward showing. He gets a soft draw and will settle in the back half of the field, look for him to be storming home late.

Hughes is racing is great heart and will do his best again, I’ve marked him longer than the $3.70 on offer but he is too honest to dismiss.

Red Phantom should get a few favours from its inside gate and is a good hope.

Nunthorpe isn’t racing well although at her best would give this a shake, she will be going in the quaddies and could be the knockout at massive odds.

Backing #14 Hiyaam Proud and #16 Kazalark

R4-1 best of the day

R5-4

R6-3

R3-8

R1-limited exposed form 5,2,1,4?

R2-5xx,4,3,6

R3-8v,11,6,2 risking 3

R4-1xxx best/day,7,4,2

R5-4xx,5,9,8

R6-3xx,11,7,5

R7-tricky 2&4…5,7

R8-1,3,9,5 (can’t bet on 1)

R9-backing 14&16…7,4,11 knockout

Best of luck if you’re having a play.