Racing Tips: Caulfield 21/02/2026

R2-2

R3-2

R7-7 best of the day

R1- We kick off the day with the resuming Verdoux as my on top selection. This lightly raced 5yo gelding started his career late after 7 jump outs and commenced with a bang winning both his first two starts. Since then, the stable has always taken its time with multiple jump outs to kick off each preparation and this one has been no different, gradually building fitness to ready him for his first up tilt. He finds a very winnable race here, draws perfectly to sit just behind the speed and be strong late.

Expulsion is his main danger, she has been racing well in similar company, gets in well at the weights and has Jamie Melham to steer. I see it sitting just behind Verdoux getting a cosy run and being in the finish somewhere.

Castellar has returned in good fashion and is a chance, as is Sweethearted who has ability but can be hard to catch.

Backing #11 Verdoux (1.5 win units)

R2- The first of our standout bets on the card stumps up here with Rosberg, this exciting son of Deep Field debuted at Moonee Valley and easily accounted for the well performed Stay Cosmic in a ‘Listed’ event. At his next start he pulled up lame in a Group 2 race behind McGaw and My Gladiola, two of the better 3yo’s in the land, that day he was very well fancied in the market, supporting the big opinion the stable has of him. He has had two nice jump outs in readiness for this, the map likes good with some early pace around him, and I think he is a great bet around the $3.70 mark.

Devil Night is another who is first up here, he was a winner of the Blue Diamond on this day last year, so we know he likes the track/trip. He has a proven class factor, and it would be no surprise seeing acquit himself well fresh.

Pallaton was ok without being fabulous first up in a Group 2 event behind Oak Hill, he drops in grade and returns to his own age group here which will assist. There are several on-pace runners here, I’m not sure he is going to get a heap of favours, as a result I must risk him at the $2.80 currently on offer.

Esmahli has won 3 from 4 in his first prep and has obvious ability, this is a big step up and I can only have him filling a minor place.

Backing #2 Rosberg (2 win units)

R3- Another nice bet on the day is Immediacy, this fella was an outstanding run when running placing behind Light Infantry Man in a Group 3 race first up, he is a multiple winner 2^nd up, loves the 2000M and is a track/trip winner also. This horse is a winner once in the groove as evidenced by winning 5 from 14, his fresh run suggests he has returned in fabulous order and I’m keen to be with him here.

Taken is an ultra-consistent conveyance, he wins 50% of his races and has only missed a place once in 12 starts, his only real failure was at Pakenham where nothing went his way and there were plenty of excuses. If there is a question mark around him, it’s his stepping out to 2000M, a distance he is untried at. He looks to map outside Magnaspin and if the dawdle in front, then he may prove tough to run down.

Sun Gift is racing in career best form and is a definite chance, as is Whisky On The Hill who was an excellent run in the Light Infantry Man race, my issue with him is his poor 2^nd up record. He is too good to dismiss though.

Backing #2 Immediacy (2 win units)

R4- The Autumn Classic a 3yo 1800M race and this year’s edition has certainly given us a very open affair. With that on offer I have gone looking for those who are on an upward trajectory and perhaps a little unfound in the market.

Abrafo is the first that fits into that category, prior to his first up win at Seymour he had jumped out nicely at show he had decent ability. In his Seymour victory they took luck out of the equation and let him stroll to the lead and dictate, winning comprehensively albeit against moderate opposition. I don’t think he leads here, I think he will be better suited with cover from barrier 2 and off the back of a cushy run might give some cheek around the $31 mark.

The other runner I am specking is Sixty Grand, another horse that won an inferior race out of town at Kyneton, he appreciated the rise in distance last time and from an inside draw is another to take advantage of a soft run and be strong late. He is also around the $31 mark and is worth a small play.

Single Choice, Kaye Jay, and Master Of The Air are all live chances and worthy of going into your exotics.

Backing #13 Abrafo (0.5 win unit), #14 Sixty Grand (0.5 win unit)

R5- This is a watch race from a future perspective, Sheza Alibi should turn up and just win, the one concern is from two tries she has never won first up. That will probably be rectified here, but at $1.50 I am staying out.

The very interesting runner is Chateau Eze, this lovely daughter of the mighty Frankel has shown in her brief career that there is a serious motor under her bonnet, we will see that as the races get longer than the 1400M here. Watch for her to be working home well late in the race, I think a nice target might be the Vinery Stakes in Sydney down the track.

The Maher trained gallopers Salty Pearl and Exit are trifecta chances.

No Bet

R6- Another race of many chances and I’m going to play two horses, The resuming Benagil and the last start winner Until Valhalla.

There is no risk that Benagil is the class runner with the most upside here, and its work in preparation for this demonstrated that it is back better than ever. This time last year it started its campaign in the Futurity Stakes behind Treasurethe Moment, and it arrives here in a race limited to her sex. She will be hoping Jennilala puts on a frantic pace and she can finish hard late.

My other bet is Until Valhalla, she was an excellent winner last start and finds the same track/distance here, her 4^th up runs are usually her best too.

Paradise City is on a 7-day back up and was an impressive winner last week, a repeat will have her in the finish.

Miss Aria is ready to peak after a nice first up effort, a big run here wont surprise.

Backing #1 Benagil (1 win unit), #8 Until Valhalla (1 win unit)

R7- We kick off the quaddy with the best bet of the day in Treasurethe Moment. There are few better horses in the country than this classy mare and I think she wins this for fun. I always like horses that have performed well at the track/trip and at a similar time of the year, she won this same race last year.

Pericles is above average as evidenced by amassing $6.5M in prizemoney, he has also won 3 times first up. If there is one to upset TTM, then it could be him.

Leica Lucy is a mare that the Waller team have always had a decent opinion of, she will run a cheeky race although I think her target is the Australian Cup in a months’ time.

Evaporate and Veight are both horses with the ability to fill a minor placing.

Backing #7 Treasurethe Moment (3 win units)

R8- The Blue Diamond Stakes and what an open edition we have this year. From abetting viewpoint, I will probably just put these horses into my quaddy, then sit back and enjoy the spectacle.

Guest House, very impressive horse, forget run last start off a tardy start, could blow them away if he’s on his best behaviour.

Closer To Free, massive spruik off a brilliant trial and subsequent $600K sale. Didn’t disappoint when winning on debut, natural improvement has it right in the mix.

Streisand lived up to her early promise by winning nicely start, things might have clicked with her now and she is a leading contender at good odds.

Big Sky has done all that has been asked of him in both his wins, he will race on pace and look to repeat recent efforts.

Unit Five is another who is unbeaten from 2 starts, the race set up will suit him more than others given some may be vulnerable late, being drawn out slightly is a plus also.

Zambales has run two 2nds thus far and could be the forgotten horse, he will be better suited here than down the straight where he appeared to stargaze a little. He did start $2.30 that day and will be $20 here.

No Bet

R9- This years Oakleigh Plate is a tad thin given most of the top-class sprinters are looking elsewhere.

I have Tropicus marginally in front of its stablemate Point Barrow.

Tropicus will need luck from its barrier and hope to tuck in behind the speed, if they can negotiate a sit then he is a massive chance. My big concern is them going mad in front and setting it up for Point Barrow, if that happens then she probably wins. I think the big syndicates will step into her and she will start closer to $2 than $3. No value there IMO.

Bridal Waltz is a talented mare who can pull out a huge run fresh, she is an each way chance. As is Geegees Mistruth who has been working towards this race since arriving from Tassie in the Spring, the Mark Walker team have her cherry ripe for this, hopefully for their sake they can avoid those falling back in her face from barrier 1.

No Bet

R10- We close out a great day’s racing with a small bet on the resuming Kings Valley.  This Maher trained galloper has looked good in his work leading into this and from a nice barrier should get a cushy run and be strong late. The $20 available is juicy, certainly on a 1×3 basis.

Stealth Of Night has been ultra-impressive in its 7-start career, and whilst this is her stiffest test to date, she certainly has all the attributes to overcome the class rise. The $2.60 doesn’t get me too excited though.

Chances also to Autumn Mystery who will be finishing hard late, first up from the Derby, and Two Wolves who is racing well, gets in on the limit and goes for 3 on the trot.

Backing #3 Kings Valley (0.75 win unit, 1.75 place unit)