Racing Tips: Caulfield 16/08/2025

R3-9 best value play

R4-6 value

R8-8

R9-14 best of the day

R1 – #15 Shadhavar (1 win unit), #12 Cavallo Rampante (0.5 win units), #14 Garnacho (0.5 win units)

R2 – #15 Skippers Canyon (1.5 win units)

R3- #9 Vienna Vixen (1 win unit, 2 place units)

R4- #6 Mathletic (0.5 win unit, 1.5 place units)

R5- #3 Mcgaw (1.5 win units)

R6- #3 My Gladiola (1 win unit)

R7- #8 Royal Insignia (1.5 win units)

R8- #8 Moira (2 win units) and #3 Attrition (0.5 win unit)

R9- #14 Kings Valley (2.5 win units)

TOTAL INVESTMENT  17.5 units

R1- We kick off proceedings with a big field of many chances

I’ve settled on Shadhavar, this mare is hard fit now after two runs back, it draws perfectly, won its only attempt when 3^rd up, and gets nice weight relief for Tom Prebble.

The resuming Cavallo Rampante, could be sneaky hope at big odds. She has good ability and can pull out a big run on her day, at $31 I will be having a small ticket on her.

Garnacho is an outside chance whilst fresh, as are Theblade and Enright.

Backing #15 Shadhavar (1 win unit), #12 Cavallo Rampante (0.5 win units), #14 Garnacho (0.5 win units)

R2- Another large field albeit a little more clearcut to my thinking.

I like Skipper’s Canyon, this ex Kiwi galloper was very good at its first run for the Stokes stable and the extra distance looks ideal. It draws perfectly, gets Stackhouse who is riding well, and most of its main opposition have negatives.

Dangers are Makdane who is racing well, gets a soft draw and Williams to steer, Farnborough who is also very consistent but has a sticky barrier, and Federer, who has ability although he was a shade disappointing last start and draws the carpark.

Backing #15 Skippers Canyon (1.5 win units)

R3- The best value play of the day fronts up here in the shape of Vienna Vixen. Although this mare is drawn out, I think the map suits her run on style and she will be out of trouble and reserving energy for the first 1000M of the race. The $18 appeals on an each way basis.

Jazz Affair is out of the market and can run a cheeky race here, like Vienna Vixen she will go back from the barrier and be finishing off late. The run last start was better than it appears on paper, and I like the booking of Micky Dee.

Gala Queen will take good benefit from its first up run and will be competitive, as will Sacred Rocks who is going well and gets in ok after the claim.

Backing #9 Vienna Vixen (1 win unit, 2 place units)

R4- I think a couple of Hayes runners hold the key to this and I’m backing the rougher of the two in Mathletic. This fella has performed well when fresh previously, draws to get a soft run, Gets Stacky and the $31 is appealing. Its recent jump out was also encouraging late where he ran through the line nicely.

Its stablemate Stylish, is the obvious danger, she is a winner of 3 races this prep, Shinn sticks and the mare loves the distance.

Fire Of Etna and Capper Thirtynine have minor claims.

Backing #6 Mathletic (0.5 win unit, 1.5 place units)

R5- Some nice 3yo’s kicking off their Spring Campaigns here and I like the unbeaten Mcgaw. On debut he toyed with them to win at Pakenham and then overcame a wide draw to win at this track in a very slick race. He resumes here at a nice price, and I think he is above average. The $9 will suit me fine.

The son of boom sire Ole Kirk, Sonofkirk also looks highly talented, its recent win at this track was that of a very good horse, it showed nice acceleration that day, and the extra trip will be beneficial too.

Shining Smile has won 5 of its 7 starts and is a live chance also.

One that could be the knockout hope is the Wyong visitor Shaggy, it wasn’t suited when resuming and is looking for a drier track rather than what is around in Sydney at present. Alan Kehoe is a very underrated horseman deserved of a top class horse.

Backing #3 Mcgaw (1.5 win units)

R6- Now the fillies edition for the 3yo’s and we have some fabulous types here. I’ve plonked for My Gladiola, this impeccably bred girl was breathtaking on debut and was quickly installed as favourite for the Blue Diamond off that emphatic victory. After that run she was a little indifferent albeit not disgraced. She returns here nice n fresh off some good jump outs, and I think is the forgotten horse, The $9 will do me fine.

The two unbeaten top picks in the market Scenic Point and Signature Scent have stamped themselves as quality animals with their victories, they are both going to be very tough to beat, to me they don’t represent much  value in such an even race.

Blue Hotel won a weaker race in Adelaide on debut but did it in the manner of a smart filly, if they overdo it pace wise then watch for her to finish hard from the back.

The Playwright will lead and run a bold race, the track pattern on the day will show you if she can win.

Backing #3 My Gladiola (1 win unit)

R7- Our open class sprint race for the day and this has thrown up a tricky version and one where there are many angles with race shape, barriers, fitness levels and riding tactics.

I like the lightly raced entire Royal Insignia from the Begg yard. Whilst this is his stiffest test to date, I think he has the most upside of the field. The inside draw maybe a tad sticky although from a 9M rail I expect them to fan in the straight and Childs to navigate a path through them to score.

Sydney visitor Brudenell missed a run recently when the meeting was called off and Kris Lees wasn’t going to risk that happening again, hence its appearance here. They quickly scheduled a trial at Gosford to ready him for this and that work was very nice.

Losesomewinmore is racing in career best form, this is the toughest race he has faced and will acquit himself well.

Arkansaw Kid is the class runner, he performs well fresh and the Caulfield 1200M is his pet track/trip, he will be in the finish somewhere.

Backing #8 Royal Insignia (1.5 win units)

R8- The race of the day and another that has more angles than Pythagoras.

I’ve settled on the highly credentialled import from the Waller camp in Moira. This mare had no luck the way they ran the race in the Doncaster, she was very well found in the market that day and the stable were very confident in her chances. She was immediately sent to acclimatise further and finds a perfect race to kick off her Spring campaign here. Plenty of ticks, fresh is good, 1400M perfect, Damien Lane, and a middle draw. Let me at the $14, yes please.

Attrition is a very good horse on his day; this is a bit short of his best distance but can knock out very fast sectionals. If Here To Shock goes crackers in front, then he could blouse them late. With a small note at the $31 on offer.

Private Eye is one of our elite horses in the country and may get a pea run outside the lead, it benefits most from the weight scale and will be the testing material.

Evaporate is the emerging type and will need to take the next step here, he is a more than capable horse and it will be interesting to see what level he gets to now that he is more mature.

Backing #8 Moira (2 win units) and #3 Attrition (0.5 win unit)

R9- We must wait all day for our best bet, and the Maher trained resuming Kings Valley stumps up for us here. This now gelding has always showed above average ability and now he had the ultimate gear change he has started to realise his full potential. He was a maiden from 7 starts, once he was ‘cut’ he has then won 4 and placed 4 times from his next 9 starts, moving through its grades nicely. The fact that the stable has elected to kick off at 1600M tells me he is fully wound up and ready to fire. Jamie Melham will suit him, as will the barrier, I think the middle of the track will be most advantageous at this stage of the day.

Revelare was a revelation last prep, he has a serious motor and is very adaptable. He’s has had two nice fitness jump outs on the synthetic in readiness for this and should be highly competitive.

Running By is above average and when conditions suit can pull out a highly rated run, recent efforts have shown that another peak performance isn’t far away.

Too Darn Discreet was good for us when winning recently, that victory showed that she had returned in fabulous order.

Backing #14 Kings Valley (2.5 win units)

R1-Backing 15, saving 12&14..18,20 open race

R2-15x…19,11,12

R3-9 great value,14,7,3

R4-6 value,7,5,9

R5-3x,6,2,4 knockout hope

R6-3,4…6,5,1

R7-8x,2,4,1

R8-8xx,3v,1,6

R9-14xxx best/day,11,6,12

Best of luck if you’re playing.