Caulfield, Saturday 13/8
Conditions - Good
Race 1
6- CHIEF ALTONY
7- JIMMY THE BEAR
2- TRALEE ROSE
CHIEF ALTONY looks due a win having placed in his last 4 starts since his last win, he is well weighted and is 8:2-5-1 over a 1600m start. Conditions look ideal for him, but will look even better if the rain comes and the track becomes wet. JIMMY THE BEAR continues to run well and his overall record is very good. He has shown he can be very adaptable so can go forward or sit and run on late. This is his biggest test so far. TRALEE ROSE is a resuming stayer whose last run was a top 10 finish in The Melbourne Cup. She will get better out over a further trip, but gets a favourable barrier and usually turns up fresh.
Race 2
3- THALASSOPHILE
5- PASSIONE
7- RUSUTSU
THALASSOPHILE had nothing go her way when 2nd last start at MOONEE VALLEY. She did a lot wrong early and then was caught out wide the trip before flashing only to fade late and carting the eventual winner into the race. Considering what went wrong, it was a big effort to finish 2nd, only needs to improve slightly here. PASSIONE is a last start winner here at Caulfield and steps up in grade now. Hasn’t missed the placings in 3 previous 3rd up runs and draws a favourable barrier. RUSUTSU chased home THALASSOPHILE for 3rd last start but was making good ground, has the turn of foot and gets a longer straight here to get a run and reel them in.
Race 3
2- SCORCHED EARTH (BEST OF DAY)
4- SHES ALL CLASS
3- HELLFEST
SCORCHED EARTH maps perfectly in this race out of barrier 2. She likes to lead and should get a favourable run. She goes well 2nd up and here at Caulfield. Looks well placed but she will want it to stay a dry track. SHES ALL CLASS ran well here in a good race to finish 2nd in her last start. She is a consistent type who is bred well but has only 1 win in her career so willing to take he on at the short price. HELLFEST is a Group 3 winner resuming today after having a successful 1st career prep. She has 3 wins from her 5 career starts, only danger is if she puts herself into a speed battle with SCORCHED EARTH and they go too hard early.
Race 4
5- I AM BENE
2- LADY OF HONOUR
1- HOME RULE
I AM BENE is 2nd up today after a 1st up run where she found herself in a bad position but still ran on nicely in a sharp race. She showed the potential she has when she was 2nd at Group 3 level last prep. You would expect she is improved coming out of the 1st up run and being fitter now. LADY OF HONOUR maps to get run of the race, she is an on speed runner and drawn from barrier 1. She finished last prep in serious form winning 3 in a row and is a proven 1st up performer and at this trip, clearly the main danger here. HOME RULE is in strong form having won 3 of his past 6 starts. 3:2-0-1 when over a 1200m trip, maps to settle in just off speed behind the leaders. If the rain comes and the track is wet he is well suited to that change.
Race 5
6- GIGA KICK
5- ALPHA ONE
4- THRON BONE
Looks a very open group level sprint this one, with a lot of promising types including GIGA KICK who we have only seen twice at the races but he has won both starts in nice fashion, he looked to have room to improve still and if he finds that here, he is a big threat. ALPHA ONE was an impressive winner a fortnight ago at Moonee Valley and now looks for a 4th win in a row. He was really well placed at Moonee Valley but may be made to work harder out in front here which could leave him susceptible. THRON BONE is another who is looking to extend a winning streak out to 4 in a row. He has multiple wins here at Caulfield and looks set up nicely to swoop late if there is a hot tempo.
Race 6
12- WALTZ ON BY
3- EBHAAR
2- BISTRO
WALTZ ON BY is still yet to have a maiden win, but she has only competed at Group and Listed level in her first prep. All of those runs she looked a good type but has now had more time to mature and winning 2 trials prior to this indicates she could come back in good shape, draws for a good run from barrier 2. EBHAAR won her debut here at Caulfield at Listed level before 2 group level runs in NSW where she couldn’t find her best. Comes into this fresh and off the back of 2 trial wins. BISTRO was 2nd a fortnight ago when favourite to win. She will rise in grade for this but is drawn to get a soft run on speed and will take catching.
Race 7
1- LOMBARDO
6- SHOWMANSHIP
11- UNCOMMON JAMES
LOMABRDO is a last start Group 1 winner but does have a big task here today as he will have to come from a wide barrier with a heavy weight, but he runs well when 1st up and has a good record over this track/distance, expecting he can show his class. SHOWMANSHIP resumes today, has an impressive 3:2-0-1 record when he is 1st up and has previously won here at Caulfield. He has recently come off a long spell but if he can recapture the form he had in 2020, he will be well set up for a promising spring. UNCOMMON JAMES has been winning well back in Queensland and now comes to Victoria hoping for a big spring assault. This is a step up in grade now and his first look at this way of running so willing to take him on at a short quote.
Race 8
8- ELEPHANT (VALUE OF DAY)
2- MR BRIGHTSIDE
1- REGAL POWER
The feature race of today, a lot of runners will kick off there campaign here and target a Group 1 next. ELEPHANT has a strong record when 1st up (4:3-0-0), has wins here at Caulfield and is Group level placed. He is up to the level of this grade and if he is here at his best he represents good value. MR BRIGHTSIDE proved his class when winning the Group 1 Doncaster mile in NSW to end his prep. He has a strong winning record, but has historically only hit his straps after a 1st up run, I’m more keen to follow him after this run, but he has the class to get it done. REGAL POWER is a former WA runner making his debut here is Victoria. He was a Group 1 winner in WA and does look a good type, but will probably be better over a further trip deeper into the prep, but don’t want to completely ignore the class he has.
Race 9
4- LUCKY DECISION
9- PASCERO
2- MILITARY EXPERT
Very open race to close out todays meeting. LUCKY DECISION had no luck when resuming, being caught out wide the run from a wider barrier. He draws barrier 1 here today so will have more options about where to land in the run and should find this easier now. Won 2nd up last prep so may be better an improved here today. PASCERO will drop in grade today from his last start here where he didn’t really feature at all. A rise in distance should suit him as he is 2:1-1-0 over a 1400m trip. He looks much better suited here 3rd up but will want the rain to stay away as he prefers a dry track. MILITARY EXPERT resumes, and this is much easier than the races he was competing in last prep in NSW. He will settle on speed and be every chance, but it’s the wide barrier that may go against him here today.