Racing Tips: Caulfield

R1-14

R3-2 (each way)

R9-6 best of the day

R1 – #14 Unlimited (2 win units)

R2 – #1 On Display (1.5 win units)

R3 – #2 Athanatos (1 win unit, 2 place units)

R4 – #10 Cadmus (1 win unit)

R5 – #11 Brayden Star (1.5 win units)

R6 – #7 Sonofkirk (1 win unit)

R7 – #15 Outback Miss (1 win unit), #3 Airman (0.5 win unit)

R8 – #3 Manaal (1 win unit)

R9 – #6 Another Wil (3 win units)

R10 – #9 Shock ‘Em Ova (1 win unit)

TOTAL INVESTMENT – 17 units

R1- Our day commences with the Waller trained Unlimited as our top pick. This horse always takes a couple of runs to get to his peak and he has had just that coming into this with 3 nice fitness runs. He was specked at long odds last start suggesting he was nearing his peak, has won 2 of 3 runs when 4^th up, gets a top-class senior rider on and draws perfectly.

Whisky On The Hill looks tough to beat, he loves soft ground, will run the trip right out, gets Shinn and maps well. Plenty of ticks with him.

Gilded Water has a touch of class and resumes here at the 1800M suggesting he is ready to go, he’s also one that handles wet tracks well.

Haaracaine acquitted itself admirably first up and can figure in the money.

Backing #14 Unlimited (2 win units)

R2- The topweight On Display should prove a tough nut to crack here. She finished her last prep in good quality mare’s races in Adelaide, going out for a spell after winning the Guineas. She kicks off here in a 1400M race which supports her having good fitness levels. She is a first up winner; Melham rides and has a perfect barrier.

Another one resuming is Flying Fizz, first up when last in work she arguably should have won at Geelong after not getting a clear run. Her recent jump outs have been good, Yendall knows her well and she also gets a soft draw.

Shadhavar is a definite hope albeit with a sticky draw, as is Gala Queen who also didn’t fare well at the barrier draw. Both have class jockeys who will do their best to offset that negative.

Backing #1 On Display (1.5 win units)

R3- Athanatos from the Phillip Stokes yard is a great bet here around the $12 mark. I love the set up for this fella, 1400M fresh is a big tick, drawn out is a plus given its racing pattern, there is above average speed which will suit ‘run-on’ horses, and Stackhouse is 2 wins and 7 placings from his 9 rides on him. If he doesn’t win, he will go mighty close.

Jenni The Fox went well when first up at the Valley where she was forced to make a wide run her condition gave out a little late. She improves 2^nd up, get Williams to steer and will be thereabouts.

Keep Your Cool should run well, as will the resuming So Risque from the Team Hayes yard.

Backing #2 Athanatos (1 win unit, 2 place units)

R4- A tricky type of race here with horses either coming off a winter campaign, or some better classes of horse having their eyes on better races in the Spring and starting their campaigns of whilst not fully wound up.

Taking that into account, I am having a small speck on Cadmus, he is lightly raced for a 7yo having only had 18 starts. He draws nicely, goes well 2^nd up, is a winner at both the track and trip, and has a nice weight.

Revelare was excellent when racing through his grades earlier this year, his run when resuming showed he had come back well, and this race looks to set up nicely for him.

Middle Earth is a classy horse that has bigger targets in the Spring, he has a huge weight to carry here but is too good to dismiss. I just can’t back him at this stage of his campaign although he is the best horse in the race by some distance.

Basilinna resumes here, she has good ability and handles soft ground well.

Backing #10 Cadmus (1 win unit)

R5- Another race where the form lines come from different perspectives. That said, I was keen on Brayden Star first up and it was given no hope by Daniel Moor. It’s since gone to Bendigo and trialled nicely to sharpen him up for this. He gets Jamie Melham to steer, a soft draw, he improves dramatically 2^nd up and will prove tough to beat.

The Waller trained Kinesiology comes down from Sydney after his first up run on a heavy track. He went ok that day without being punished, and I think he improves a fair bit here.

Too Darn Discreet is racing well and must be considered. Golden Path is above average and will have benefitted from its first up assignment, he should run well.

Backing #11 Brayden Star (1.5 win units)

R6- We get into the pointy end of the meeting now and this is a good field of quality 3-year-olds.

I’m prepared to give Sonofkirk another chance here. Last start he looked a little lost at stages behind Jimmy Recard when he was very well fancied, I think he might’ve just been having an off day. He gets the in-form Jamie Mott going on, draws the rails and to my mind is the forgotten horse. In such an even race I’d rather take the $16 about him.

Vinrock is an exciting colt who is reportedly flying in its preparation for this, he is unbeaten, beautifully bred, draws perfectly and gets Zahra, plenty to like about him.

The classy Blue Diamond winner Devil Night will run a nice race also; he was extremely brave in the Slipper and had a nice tick over trial in Sydney recently. He may well be too good for these, he’s a beauty. The reason I don’t have him on top is that I think he will be peaking in a month or so.

McGaw was scratched last with due to a temperature, he is over that although against this level you need everything right going into it.

I’m potting Jimmy Recard as he won’t get the ‘favours’ from last start here.

Backing #7 Sonofkirk (1 win unit)

R7- The first leg of the quaddy and the talented mare Outback Miss comes out on top for me. This girl boasts a 50%-win strike rate, is drawn perfectly to sit midfield one off on a decent speed, gets Frosty Lane to pilot her, flies first up and is unbeaten on affected ground. Heaps of ticks and $9 to boot. It’s a yes from me, think she leaves them lamenting when they call a halt.

The Team Hawkes trained Airman might be the fly in the ointment if there is one, he is very effective fresh and loves it soft underfoot. He’s had 2 trails in readiness for this and the move to send it to Melbourne is always one to take note of with this team.

She’s Bulletproof is a bonny mare, proven against the best of them. She drops a little in grade against this lot and must be a chance. A couple of potential negatives, she has never won first up, and she trailed in hoof pads recently suggesting some feet issues perhaps.

See You In Heaven isn’t hopeless, she didn’t come up last prep and was quickly turned out, at her best she is right with these. She goes great fresh and loves wet tracks, at $35 it’s a must for your quaddy.

Backing #15 Outback Miss (1 win unit), #3 Airman (0.5 win unit)

R8- The open sprint race for mares and it certainly is open.

I have very little between Manaal, Magic Time and Miss Roumbini.

They all have excellent prospects and plenty of positives to recommend. Manaal on top as it might have better luck than it got last prep and its recent trials support and big campaign.

Magic Time is the class runner, she is a winner of almost $3M, goes well both clockwise and anticlockwise, and flies fresh.

Miss Roumbini is an exciting mare; she can peel off very quick sectionals and is in this up to her ears. Whilst she has never won first up, she has always run in the placings and arguably should have won at least 2 of those 3 attempts.

The Kiwi visitor Damask Rose is highly talented; she is a little hard to line up though. The stable should always be respected; they are very astute.

Backing #3 Manaal (1 win unit)

R9- Here we are the Group 1 Memsie Stakes and what a cracking field we have assembled. I can’t recall a race where the runners had amassed of $50M in stakes earnings.

My best bet on the card is the superstar Another Wil. He finds a race where his main opposition all have a few chinks in their collective armours. He has plenty of positives though, a winner of 9 from 16, loves Caulfield, loves the 1400M, goes like a jet first up and handles all surfaces. He also draws perfectly to sit just off the speed and will give them a cold at the 150M mark.

His dangers are Antino who was excellent last prep and went to a new level, Fangirl, who is a great mare and a winner of $10M, and the evergreen Mr Brightside, who will race handy and rarely runs a bad race.

Backing #6 Another Wil (3 win units)

R10- The last race on an excellent card and this is very tricky.

I’ve settled on Shock ‘Em Ova, he has had his fair share of issues throughout his career and his best runs are usually fresh, which he is here. The 1400M is perfect and he is unbeaten at Caulfield. The $14 seems overs to me.

Plymouth is a new addition to the Hayes yard and has decent ability, he needs speed on, if he gets that here then look for him to be storming home late.

Sepals is a worthy fave and is above average, he could well blow them away. The $3 looks a tad skinny for me but he must go in as a big chance.

Green Fly is always a hope in races like this; he maps well here and will be around the money.

Backing #9 Shock ‘Em Ova (1 win unit)

R1-14xx,8,5,10

R2-1x,9,13,4

R3-2x,15,11,5

R4-10,14,1,6

R5-11x,17,15,2

R6-7x,2,1,6

R7-15x,3…12,11 not hopeless

R8-3,2,12,8 open race

R9-6xxx best/day,3,9,1

R10-9,13,10,8 very tricky

Best of luck if you’re playing.