Caulfield, Saturday 7/5
Conditions - Soft
Race 1
1- LIBERTY STEPS
2- MERCHANT PRINCE
6- MAXIMILLIUS
LIBERTY STEPS showed good improvement from his debut when he won last start. Him and the 2nd placed runner beat the field together easily and the form from that race has been franked now. A similar run to that is good enough to this. MERCHANT PRINCE finds an easier race than what he has been competing in of late. He has been freshened since those Group level runs. MAXIMILLIUS was spelled after a debut run and resumes here. His trials prior to resuming here have been really good, and gets a good weight advantage on other favoured runners.
Race 2
6- PRINCESS RHAENYS
4- WHITE HIBISCUS
5- MAID OF IRON
PRINCESS RHAENYS should be a big improver for being 2nd up here today after she was coming back off a long spell. She has run well at Group 1 level so if she is at her best she should be capable. WHITE HIBISCUS goes well when over the 1600m. All of her career wins have come at this distance. MAID OF IRON is also 2nd up and has good 2nd up form. She has drawn softly so may figure with a soft run, but will want a dry track.
Race 3
14- DANCE TO DUBAI
3- LITTLE STEVIE
12- SUGARTOWN
DANCE TO DUBAI maps as if she will get the gun run here from the inside barrier. She will have a real light weight as well after an apprentice claim. First up here today and she is super fresh (4:1-2-1). LITTLE STEVIE was 2nd last start behind a runner who is at a very low price to win again here later today. LITTLE STEVIE did a lot of work from a wide barrier in that last start run. Drawn much better here today. SUGARTOWN is the current fave but I’m looking to take her on due to her drawing a wide barrier. She strung together a good prep last time and is resuming here today. Has good first up form.
Race 4
9- SIG POSITANO (BEST OF DAY)
4- GALENUS
6- BLAZE A TRAIL
SIG PASITANO resumed nicely to place at Flemington on ANZAC day. He is usually a big improver once he is 2nd up and fitter. He will handle the track if rain is around and the only query is if he can find room late to produce the big finish. GALENUS is a Tasmanian runner making his 2nd trip over to Victoria. His overall record is impressive, he may also be at his best if the track is in the soft range. Has good early speed and may find the front with out much trouble and be the one they need to catch. Resuming BLAZE A TRAIL is one that has a strong first up record (5:2-1-1) and can produce here.
Race 5
3- IT’SOURTIME
6- ROCK THE RING
11- STARRY LEGEND
It’s hard to look past IT’SOURTIME with how well placed he is here and what he produced last start when resuming in a tougher grade race. He endured a wide run in that 2nd placing at Listed level. Gets a much better barrier here and should be tough to beat. ROCK THE RING comes over from SA and drops in class here off the back of 2 listed level runs. He has had to deal with wider barrier in is last few runs, finally draws much better barrier here and should get a good run. Looks a really good chance and represents one at a bit more value than the fave. STARRY LEGEND backs up after a win last week and this is a step up in grade now but will carry a really low weight which may help him late if he has to work from the wide barrier.
Race 6
2- CLEMENCEAU
1- SCISSOR STEP
9- LUNA CAT
CLEMENCEAU should be very hard to beat here today. He looks for his 5th win in a row here. He won really well over the 1100m last start so thinking the rise to 1200m won’t bother him and expecting a soft surface shouldn’t either. If you are wanting more value, I would be going with SCISSOR STEP. He should get a soft run behind the leader and may be able to grab him late and is proven on a soft surface. LUNA CAT is resuming, will carry a light weight here today and has a good overall record and record over this distance.
Race 7
6- SKYMAN
8- UNCLE BRYN
3- IMPERIAL LAD
Willing to go against short price fave UNCLE BRYN here. He did have a good European record prior to coming to Australia. Won his 2nd Aus start well recently but that was in an easier grade than this, just want to see what he can do in a tougher level before diving in at below $2. Thought SKYMAN hit the line really strongly last start and that was in a tougher grade than this. He has won races 2nd up multiple times and is 2/2 over this track and distance. IMPERIAL LAD was tough when holding on for the win in his last start. He always pushes forward and shows big hard fighting all the way through. Draws soft here for that on speed run.
Race 8
3- ELZAMEE
8- THE CLAIMANT
2- BLUSHING TYCOON
Thought this was another pretty tough and even race. Going with ELZAMEE who will drop in class after competing in The Australia Derby last start. He is only lightly raced so for the stable to have him run in that race suggests he must have some talent. THE CLAIMANT is another lightly raced runner. He was good last start without a lot of luck, and that may have cost him. 2000m here suits him. BLUSHING TYCOON has only won once but the last start 5th was a good run. Draws favourably here for a soft on speed run.
Race 9
6- NO EFFORT (EW/VALUE OF DAY)
5- MILFORD
9- FLASH AAH
Playing NO EFFORT as the EW play of the day here today. She looks a likely leader here even from the wide barrier. Looking at the forecast, the track could be cut up at this stage which should suit her even more. MILFORD won his last start here over this track/distance and still has some room to improve. If he pulls it all together looks a big danger in this. FLASH AAH is the current race fave and has been in some super form since resuming. Hasn’t won over this distance, but should be peaking in fitness now.