Caulfield, Saturday 27/8
Conditions - Soft
Race 1
9- AMERICAIN ANGEL
12- STORM KING
5- SOMERSET MAUGHAM
Tough race to kick off, probably prefer to watch this one and use the track to gauge how the track might be playing. AMERICAIN ANGEL has been well supported early and is a consistent type. Track conditions should suit and expecting that she will appreciate a rise to the 2000m. STORM KING dropped in grade in his last start to win well at a short price. His form prior to that was consistent in strong level races. The wetter it gets the bigger chance I feel he is. Would prefer to see SOMERSET MAUGHAM on a dryer track, but need to include him based on his recent form, looks close to a win with suitable conditions.
Race 2
5- LADY OF HONOUR
7- SAIGON
8- GROOVY KINDA LOVE
Expecting LADY OF HONOUR to be an improver today now 2nd up. She didn’t really find much of a run. Trials prior she looked like she was going really well. She can run on the wet and she maps to get run of the race here. SAIGON resumes here today and she has a super record when 1st up (6:2-2-0). She might need luck over this 1400m trip but with clear running late she will be finishing off strongly. GROOVY KINDA LOVE resumes here today and hasn’t missed the placings in 3 other 1st up runs. She ran 2nd to FLYING MASCOT at the end of last prep, that’s a strong form line and she gets in here really nicely at the weights, she can figure at good odds.
Race 3
11- EL ROCKO
10- LOGAN STREET LION
14- CARDINAL GEM
EL ROCKO drops in grade today after finishing 2nd a fortnight ago. He should find it a very similar race coming from a similar barrier and without too much extra weight, key for him today is the track conditions. He is 2/2 on a heavy track so will be wanting some rain to deteriorate the track and give him ideal conditions. LOGAN STREET LION is resuming here, has a super record when 1st up (2:1-1-0) and has a super record over the 1400m. He would probably prefer a drier track. CARDINAL GEM has had a freshen up after having good success recently. The recent form is strong, but he comes out of the extreme outside barrier over the 1400m trip which may make it hard if he can’t get clear late.
Race 4
2- BUFFALO RIVER
3- BANKERS CHOICE
9- GENTLEMAN ROY
Ideal conditions here today for BUFFALO RIVER. He has a fitness edge over majority of this field and conditions are ideal. He has a super record on a wet track and here at Caulfield. Also an impressive record of 6:2-2-1 over this track/distance. BANKERS CHOICE is a resuming runner, the last run in his last prep was a strong performance in a tough Doncaster Mile field. That has the potential to be a huge form reference as some of those runners are competing in todays Group 1. He has good form on a wet track. GENTLEMAN ROY had a huge last prep when winning 5 of his last 7 starts (2nd in the other 2 runs). He meets a sharp field 1st up here but is drawn to be every chance up on speed.
Race 5
12- AFT CABIN
6- JACQUINOT
1- DAUMIER
AFT CABIN made a mess of rivals last start at Sandown, he is at a short price but looks to have huge potential. He won the last start at a genuine speed, a run similar here should be enough. JACQUINOT resumes here today, he won when 1st up last prep before being placed in a 2yo Group 1 race later into the prep. He has options here from barrier 2. DAUMIER was the Blue Diamond winner before running on well in 2 other Group 1s in NSW. His record here is impressive (3:2-0-1) if he can handle the heavy weight he will be right in this.
Race 6
3- GENERATION (BEST OF DAY)
4- IN THE BOAT
2- KALLOS
Really keen on how well placed GENERATION looks in this race today. He is super here at the Caulfield track, has a (3:2-0-1) record when 1st up and goes well on a wet track. What he showed in a recent trial was super impressive. Mapping him to land in a perfect spot today from barrier 2. IN THE BOAT had a super last prep and resumes here today, he is definitely one to follow out of this race, but just think he has a few things going against him here. Feel that he would prefer a dryer track and with the range expected to be close to a heavy and the fact he has the wide barrie, feel that he may be up against it, but he can run some serious time at his best. KALLOS gave a good sight in a race in Adelaide where he was 3rd behind a runner who is expected to have a strong spring. He can figure at this distance and 2nd up now.
Race 7
7- PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE
1- GRACEFUL GIRL
8- ISOTOPE
PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE is an undefeated mare who still looks like she has room to improve yet. She can run some serious time when she is up and about and she is drawn here to get a super run again. She blew them away in a recent trial and feel she will be tough to beat. GRACEFUL GIRL is a proven G1 winner back over in WA and is now on debut for a new stable. She is 5/5 over this 1200m trip and hasn’t missed the placings in 3 other 1st up starts. ISOTOPE has run well in recent Group 1s back up in Queensland. She can run well fresh and on a soft track.
Race 8
2- CASCADIAN (EW/VALUE OF DAY)
5- WESTERN EMPIRE
1- I’M THUNDERSTRUCK
This is a super edition of The Memsie Stakes, it’s a race that we usually see runner who are aimed towards the Cox Plate, so this could be a big spring form reference. Reports are that CASCADIAN has been flying at the trials recently. He usually does his best work when 1st up, capable at his best and we can get a nice EW price about him. WESTERN EMPIRE makes his debut here in Victoria for a new stable after making a strong resume back over in WA. He has a super record, but may have a few things against him here today, so one to follow coming out of the race. I’M THUNDERSTRUCK is proven at Group 1 level, the talk for a long time now has been that he is aimed at the 2022 Cox Plate, think the stable will have him ready to go for a big prep and he has the potential for a huge spring.
Race 9
2- DELPHI
11-EMISSARY
6- TRALEE ROSE
Tough staying race to close off the card, expecting that a few of theses are beginning a campaign on a Melbourne/Caulfield Cup prep. DELPHI ran a strong Melbourne Cup finishing in the top 10 before resuming and being a bit disappointing over the autumn. Expecting that now he has had a longer spell, he will be fresher here. EMISSARY usually performs at his best when he is 1st up and fresh like today (4:1-2-1). He wasn’t far off them in a strong Group 1 last prep, if he is at his best he could be capable here. TRALEE ROSE is another who ran a strong Melbourne Cup and may have a fitness edge on some of these now that she is 2nd up. Put herself in the race early last start before fading, will appreciate more ground here.